How can cultural spaces become more accessible for everyone? In the “Designing Access“ project, students from KISD and Code & Context have developed an inclusive system that combines visual, tactile, and auditory forms of orientation. The prototypes will be presented on 16 June at the Orangerie Theatre Cologne.
Orientation systems in public spaces are designed to enable people to move around safely and independently. Tactile patterns in the flooring, visual contrasts and acoustic signals can be particularly helpful for people with disabilities. However, such integrated systems are still rarely found. In the mid-term project “Designing Access”, students from KISD and Code & Context have jointly developed a orientation system that combines visual, tactile and auditory elements, thereby addressing different modes of perception for people with disabilities.
Experts from Un-Label, a meeting place for inclusive art and cultural projects, and education specialists from TH Köln are contributing their expertise and perspectives on disability. The project is funded by the Transfer Fund of TH Köln and the Kämpgen Foundation. On 16 June 2026 at 7 pm, the students will present their prototypes at the Orangerie Theater in Cologne. Admission is free; no registration is required.
Following the evaluation of the prototypes, a funding application will be submitted for the actual implementation of a wayfinding system at the Orangerie Theatre. The final model is intended to be adaptable to other cultural venues and to serve as a blueprint for inclusive orientation systems within the cultural sector.
Mid-term project “Designing Access”
Lecturers
Prof. Dr Laura Popplow
Prof. Dr Lasse Scherffig
Kai Kullen
Felix Boße
Students
Anastasiia Lomanovska, Anastasiia Remezova-Stoliarchuk, Dustin Fischer, Elena Savoldi, Johannes Adrian Henken, Jannis Herforth, Jonas Willibert Röske, Janina Rüb, Jonathan Alexander Schmitz, Lauritz Jonathan Hantschel, Levin Moritz Meyer, Max Dreyer, Mingxi Lu, Moritz Lach
Educational staff at TH Köln
Florian Lintz, Luca Prachthäuser
Project management, Un-Label
Nils Rottgardt
Experts from Un-Label
Adriani Botez, Jennifer Werres
Simultaneous interpretation (plain language)
Anne Leichtfuß