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Tactile Graphics

Tactile-graphic adaptations of diagrams, charts, and illustrations — designed for touch reading, not just visual conversion.

A tactile graphic is not a print image with a braille caption bolted on. It is a rebuilt representation of the same information, designed for a reader who will interpret it with their hands. Christy produces tactile graphics that prioritize what the source is trying to communicate over faithfulness to every visual detail.

What’s included

  • Adaptation, not just conversion. Visual detail that does not carry meaning to a tactile reader is simplified or removed; detail that does carry meaning is preserved and, where necessary, exaggerated so it can be discriminated by touch.
  • Textures, line weights, and spacing chosen so different areas and boundaries are distinguishable under a fingertip.
  • Braille labels and a key/legend placed so they can be found without interrupting reading of the graphic itself.
  • Coordinated with the surrounding braille — the graphic is introduced, referenced correctly from the running text, and (when appropriate) paired with a short print/braille description.

Good candidates

Textbook figures (biology diagrams, geometry constructions, geographic maps, graphs of functions), classroom handouts, exam figures, and one-off illustrations that a student needs to interact with. See School Maps for campus-orientation work specifically, and Textbooks for full-book projects that include many graphics.

Send the source figure(s) and describe how a reader will use them (identify regions? follow a construction? read values off a graph?) so the graphic can be built for the right task.

Selected work

Examples of Christy’s work

Real materials, made to be explored by touch.

Select an image to view the full-size original.

Handmade tactile DNA diagram with red raised shapes, black connecting lines, clear beads, and braille labels on paper.

Tactile science

DNA, made tangible

Raised red and black lines, beads, and braille labels bring a DNA diagram off the page.

Tactile chemical structures marked G and C, with raised black bonds, dashed connections, and letter and braille labels.

Chemistry

Chemical structures by touch

A close look at raised bonds and labeled chemical structures.

Explore chemistry transcription

Your project

Let’s start with the material.

Share a sample, the intended audience, your preferred output format, and your timeline.

Contact Christy