Bunny Maze — Negin Bokaei

The problem

Most games rely heavily on vision, making them inaccessible — or simply less engaging — for visually impaired children. The challenge: design a game for kids aged 4–6 that works without relying on sight, while staying fun for all players.

Touch becomes the primary navigation system Structure must replace visual hierarchy Simplicity must balance engagement

The process

Three prototype iterations tested with sighted and visually impaired children — including blindfolded play sessions. The first cardboard iteration was tested with a 5½-year-old sighted child and three blindfolded adults: players relied on their hands to feel the board, and the child invented his own story for the two rabbit figures.

Children spontaneously generated their own rabbit narratives, which became a design principle: balance guidance and structure with storytelling freedom.

Maze too simple → added complexity Connections unstable → redesigned structure Interaction too effortful → simplified mechanism

Testing the cardboard first iteration — players relied on touch to feel the board and identify objects.

The outcome

A tactile puzzle maze playable by sighted and visually impaired children together: magnetic alignment for tactile feedback, high-contrast colors, varied 3D-printed textures, rotating maze components for adjustable difficulty, and an open-ended rabbit narrative that sparks imaginative play and collaboration.

From sketch to final — two puzzle routes, narrow and wide, over a bottom layer.

What this shows

Inclusive design as shared play, not a separate "accessible version" — and rapid physical prototyping driven by testing with real users.