Imagine tracking a thief using only smell, touch and sound.
Police are chasing a thief through a maze completely in the dark. In fact, both are literally blind.
This is no computer game. It’s a physical play experience designed for the visually impaired by 18-year-old fully sighted students from Singapore’s Jurong Pioneer Junior College.
Their design mission: to raise empathy and understanding of people living with disabilities.
“Play is where inclusion begins,” says Sim Shoo Shyuan, founder of The Possible Class. “It’s a universal language that fosters connection. It’s the perfect way to build understanding between individuals, regardless of ability.”
So how do you design for something you’ve never experienced?
The 30 students first learned from the visually impaired at Dialogue in the Dark at Singapore’s Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Here they got to experience everyday situations in complete darkness, led by a vision-impaired facilitator.
The teenagers learned how to “see” in new ways using their other senses. This forced them to think differently:
- How can you design something that can be understood without being seen?
- What makes play intuitive?
- How do you make a space navigable through touch, sound or movement?
At first, this was unfamiliar territory.
Then, through open conversation and hands-on collaboration, something clicked.
This wasn’t about fixing a problem. It was about understanding different ways to interact with the world.
The police-thief maze was one of five pioneering play designs the students came up with. Others included a sensory playground, an escape room, and an educational game park.
The Possible Class ran this initiative in partnership with DesignSingapore Council and SG Enable, two government agencies. It was part of a broader movement to foster inclusive mindsets in youth and greater awareness of accessibility in design.
When faced with a new challenge we often hesitate, unsure how to proceed. Confidence grows with understanding.
In the end, the students realized that play isn’t something to be given. It’s something that already exists, waiting to be designed in new ways.
This was more than a design project. It was a catalyst for change.
“This way of thinking, planning and designing can be a transformative journey,” said Shoo Shyuan. “It prepares them to tackle any complex challenge with creativity and care in the future.”
