korean trio designs guitar-inspired musical instrument for the visually impaired
fitted with a braille fingerboard, the 'VITAR' guitar boasts an asymmetrical shape that emphasizes the parts where it should be held.
‘vitar’ a musical device with a braille fingerboard
Korean design trio Eojin Roh, Seonjin Baek, and Yujeong Shin introduce ‘VITAR’, a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) designed for the blind and visually impaired. Shaped like a guitar, and instead of the traditional strings, the instrument includes a Braille fingerboard made up of several embossed keys that users sense and press with their left hand to play a tune. While operating the keys, electronic signals get sent to a Digital Audio Workstation through which the melody unfolds
all images courtesy of Eojin Roh, Seonjin Baek, Yujeong Shin
an intuitive, asymmetrical design for easy handling
To help the visually impaired navigate the ‘VITAR’ guitar, Roh, Baek, and Shin endowed the musical instrument with an unusual and asymmetrical shape, emphasizing the parts where it should be held. Complementing its unique shape is a set of embossed lines carved along the main body, acting as additional guiding points when handling the device. The most prominent lines are found at the center of the guitar, recalling the row of strings in traditional guitars.
the recessed chamber at the center of ‘VITAR’ serves as guidelines
According to the designer trio, people with visual disabilities become more sensitive to auditory stimulation as an alternative to vision, encouraging them to opt for musical activities. Incorporating a Braille system can then help them play the music they want by creating an experience that is intuitive and manageable without stripping the fun from it. That’s where ‘Vitar’ comes in — a simple yet groundbreaking re-imagination of the guitar fingerboard that makes music that much more accessible.
an asymmetrical design to help the visually impaired properly handle the instrument
a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) shaped like a guitar
close-up shot of the Braille fingerboard, comprising a set of keys
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project info:
name: VITAR
type: Electronic guitar
design: Eojin Roh, Seonjin Baek, Yujeong Shin
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