FEEL_K
Winner of the Logitech Best Design Award:
A groundbreaking tactile interface restoring digital agency to blind users through masterful UX and high-end industrial design.
Year: 2025
Type: Computer Peripheral Design / Assistive Technology
User Group: Blind and Visually Impaired Users
Role: Full Cycle: Problem Statement, Idea, Concept Development, Industrial Design, Ergonomics, Interaction Logic, Modeling, Rendering.
Tools: 3ds Max, Rhino + Grasshopper, Keyshot.
Status: Awarded Best Design Concept (Logitech Design Challenge)
Location: Cork, Ireland
Context
Developed in just four days for the Logitech "CTRL + ALT + INCLUDE" challenge, FEEL_K is a deeply personal project inspired by my father’s 25-year career at the National Association for the Blind. The design is centered on a "ribbon" concept — a continuous, flexible medium that represents a stream of information adapting to the user.
The Challenge
Sighted users "scan" digital content in seconds, while blind users are often restricted to slow, linear navigation. The challenge was to create a high-performance peripheral that eliminates this gap, solving issues of spatial orientation, wrist fatigue, and complex shortcut memorization within a single, elegant device.
The Solution & Impact
I designed a split, cantilevered keyboard with a central mechanical joint for customizable tilt, ensuring the wrists remain in a natural, relaxed position. The interface features two primary innovations:
Tactile Islands & Smart Shortcuts: Keys are grouped into "islands" for easy orientation. I replaced complex 2 or 3-key combinations (like Ctrl+Shift+Tab) with single, texture-coded programmable buttons, significantly reducing cognitive load.
The Braille Panel: The centerpiece is a dynamic "tactile canvas" made of soft-touch silicone over a grid of electromagnetic pins. As the user types or navigates, the panel generates real-time Braille patterns, allowing users to "scan" text physically, just as a sighted person scans visually.
Mastery & Recognition
FEEL-K was awarded the Best Design Award 2025 at Logitech’s headquarters in Cork. The jury recognized the project for its "masterful integration of function, UX, and aesthetics," noting that it doesn't just assist the user — it empowers them. The result is a high-performance tool that bridges the accessibility gap through sophisticated engineering and premium industrial design.