This experiment started by finding a solution for the problem of blind people not being able to perceive emotions in written language and by this having a constant obstacle communicating effectively with others. The project is based on a deep research between colors and feelings in specific cultures in the world. As a solution we designed 5 tones of voice icons. Relaxed Tone, Happy Tone, Serious Tone, Intense Tone and Sad Tone. Each one was developed through the sense of touch and hearing to transmit the same stimulation in the brain that a normal emoji would. For the sense of touch we designed the icons in an embossed 3D format as a texture and for the sense of hearing we designed 5 melodies, each one specifically composed to produce the specific emotion in the blind person.

We started by selecting the feelings and colors for each tone of voice, basing ourselves on the study of David McCandless and Always With Honor studio in the infographic “Colors and Cultures”. Then we associated each tone of voice to a texture and sound that transmitted the same stimulation in the brain that a visual perception would.

The sounds are based on a 30-seconds melody composed by Elisa Romano starting with a note which is based on the study made by Alexander Scriabin that developed a mapping between notes and colors of his experience with “Color-hearing”, which is a particular example of synaesthesia. This is followed by a melody that evokes the feeling of the tone of voice. 

Each icon is based on a grid design based on the classical braille 6-dot grid.  Our grid has an extra line (making it a 9-dot grid). This extra line is placed horizontally (three extra dots to the right). This is because readability for blind people is crucial and expanding the grid vertically would negatively impact the icon’s flow, readability and printing efficiency. The patterns he designed are all particular colors and are tested and associated with blind people: the patterns plus the square grid composition.