Sample page from Procedure for Writing Words, Music, and Plainsong in Dots

Louis Braille’s Procedure for Writing Words, Music, and Plainsong in Dots (1829) presented one of the earliest writing systems created specifically for readers who are blind. Braille modified a previous 12-dot system into a more straightforward six-dot system, allowing quicker and simpler reading and writing. The book showcases traditional embossed Roman letters alongside Braille’s raised-dot system, highlighting the difficulty of adapting the Latin alphabet to address the challenges of reading as a blind individual in contrast to the straightforward Braille system. This emphasizes the book's significance to graphic design as it illustrates how design can either exclude or accommodate individuals with disabilities. It additionally presents the concept of tactile design, beyond simple flat texts and alphabet systems. Rather than forcing blind readers to utilize a system designed for sighted individuals, Braille developed something customized to their genuine needs and capabilities. This illustrates how accessibility can entirely transform the design and communication of information. It also makes you reflect on who design traditionally serves and who is excluded when accessibility isn't prioritized from the brainstorming phase. Given that English emerged as a written language around the 7th century and other written languages were already in existence, this highlights the significant delay in design advancements concerning disabilities and inclusivity. Braille’s method demonstrates that accessible design doesn’t just have to be a modification of current design, but can be its own unique and intentional system.