Imagine stepping into a museum, where every painting whispers tales from the past, or wandering through a garden where nature's palette unfolds in a symphony of colors. Now, envision experiencing all this with the volume turned down on color. This is the reality for those with various types of color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency (CVD), a condition that can significantly dull the vibrancy of the world around them.
Key Insights from the EnChroma Study
EnChroma's groundbreaking research, involving responses from 505 participants with red-green color blindness, unveils how this condition diminishes their interest and enjoyment in activities where color plays a starring role. Nearly half of the respondents relayed that their condition deters them from visiting art museums and similar venues, with a striking 77% feeling excluded or let down during visits to colorful attractions. The desire to create art, differentiate team jerseys at sports events, and navigate color-coded information at venues also presents a considerable challenge.
A Call for Color Accessibility
The study not only highlights the hurdles faced by those who are red green color blind , it also underscores a pressing need for "color accessibility" in public spaces. Because many venues do not understand what colorblind people see, it is unsurprising that a significant 84% of the study’s participants expressed a desire for venues to consider their needs in color usage. This includes everything from venue signage, maps and brochures to exhibits. The lack of awareness about what colorblind people see points toward the broader issue of inclusivity.
EnChroma's Mission: Bridging the Color Gap
EnChroma, renowned for its color-enhancing glasses for those who are red green color blind, stands at the forefront of advocating for color accessibility. The company encourages public institutions to consider the needs of millions of color blind people when designing and choosing colors for marketing materials, visitor access points, online and in exhibits. These efforts aim to ensure that experiencing art, nature, tourist destinations and cultural events is more accessible to people with all types of color blindness, regardless of how they see the world.
The Path Forward
The EnChroma study serves as a clarion call to museums, parks, tourist destinations, and other public venues to prioritize color accessibility. By embracing technologies like EnChroma glasses and adapting signage, guides, and other visual information, we can open up a more inclusive and vibrant world for individuals who are red green color blind and make their trips to colorful venues less frustrating and more memorable. The findings from EnChroma's study are a stepping stone toward a more inclusive society, where color is not a barrier to access or enjoyment.
Highlights from the EnChroma Study:
- Almost 8 in 10 color blind people want museums, parks, gardens and tourist destinations to adapt signage, guides and exhibits for color blind guests to eliminate problematic colors (77.82%)
- 14% of color blind people say family and friends do not take them to colorful museums, parks, gardens and tourist destinations because they're color blind
- 8 in 10 color blind people say they were made fun of for coloring something "wrong" as a child or adult
- More than half of color blind people think museums, parks, gardens, tourist destinations, concert and sports venues should treat color blindness as an accessibility issue (54.06%)
- Eighty-five percent of color blind people say they would be more likely to visit a museum, garden, park or tourist destination if they knew they could borrow EnChroma glasses to more fully experience the colors during their visit (85.35%)
- Seven in 10 color blind people want state and national parks to offer scenic viewers adapted for the color blind with EnChroma lenses (69.90%)
For a more detailed exploration of the result of the EnChroma study, click here. Click here to answer the question ‘how do colorblind glasses work?’ To learn more about types of color blindness click here. Join us in envisioning a world where color accessibility is not an afterthought but a key consideration in designing public spaces, making the beauty of colors accessible to everyone.
