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Manila Bulletin devider devider New typeface combines Braille, English Characters

New typeface combines Braille, English Characters

Published Apr 7, 2018 12:12 pm
By Marjaleen Ramos With the hope of having an inclusive society where using Braille becomes commonplace, Tokyo-based designer Kosuke Takahashi has developed Braille Neue, a new typeface which blends Braille with the English and Japanese alphabets. Screenshot from Brailleneue website/ Manila Bulletin Screenshot from Brailleneue website/ Manila Bulletin According to Takahashi, the goal of creating Braille Neue is to have it used in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to “create a truly universal space where anyone can access information.” The 24-year old Japanese designer also said that one of the main purposes of this new typeface is to make texts more inclusive and help visionless individuals navigate more efficiently. “Currently, we rarely see Braille implemented in the public space since it takes additional space and sighted people consider it not important. Braille Neue addresses this issue by making Braille easy to use for sighted people,” Takahashi stated. “By spreading this typeset I believe more people will get acquainted with Braille,” he added. After conducting several researches, Takahashi found out that as long as there are the 6 dotted patterns, visually-impaired people will be able to read it regardless of its size. The Braille Neue has two variations- Braille Neue Standard, which is for the English alphabet, and Braille Neue Outline, which is for Japanese and English. Braille has already been incorporated into the Latin alphabet by various designers. Braille Neue, however, is the first typeface to include Japanese characters. Takahashi said that the Braille Neue is still a work in progress.
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