The work is relevant for Design because is a breakthrough in inclusive design by solving a crucial need for visually impaired people in a simple and effective way.

It´s a low-tech and large-scale project that demonstrated how the product could positively influence their daily lives.

Through the design, it was possible to change behavior and create an affinity towards the brand among the visually impaired. This innovation has given them the possibility of living with more freedom and autonomy.

SIGHTWALKS is an open-source project to help millions people in cities worldwide. The design and implementation patent are available for free on the Cemento Sol website www.cementosol.com.pe

In Peru, the main disability is visual. Despite this, the government does not prioritize addressing this issue, leaving the visually impaired people practically marginalized and without any assistance.

In the other hand, for more than 100 years, Cemento Sol has been committed to providing the best cement for all Peruvian families. Its long-standing commitment to Peru drives the brand to improve the quality of life for all, offering solutions that make living experiences more inclusive and welcoming for each person, while contributing to the development of cities and the country. Sol firmly believes that quality construction, supported by the best cement, can positively transform the lives of all people, especially those most in need.

Tactile paving is a universal system that helps visually impaired people walk down sidewalks. Consisting of lines and points on cement, this system enables them to move forward and stop. It helps them but it is not enough, because they cannot know what is around them, that is why they´re forced to depend on constant assistance to locate basic services or business such as banks, drugstores or restaurants.

Visually impaired people face daily frustration relying on others for daily tasks, further marginalized by lack of government support.

In alignment with the brand´s purpose, Cemento Sol wanted to give them a solution by turning the city into a friendlier and more inclusive place for them.

We didn´t have large budgets, so the solution had to be created with what we did have in abundance: cement.

Our goal was to make the project scalable and replicable for any city in the world.

We designed a new tactile signage system that improves the current one.

This is a new vocabulary system that allows visually impaired people to recognize exactly what type of basic services or business is in front of them just by tapping the sidewalk with their cane.

Using the same pattern as the universal system, a horizontal bar on the sidewalk indicates a tile where vertical lines can be counted, each number of lines means a category of commercial venue.

Thus, if the person tap a line, in front of him there is a restaurant.

If he taps two lines, there will be a bank.

Three, grocery store.

Four, drugstore, and so on.

These sidewalks are implemented throughout Miraflores, the busiest district in the country, and allow blind people to find the places they are going without having to ask other people for help and move around with complete independence.

The development of the entire project took almost 2 years and was designed with the active participation of the visually impaired people who were always testing the execution to ensure that it would be user-friendly and functional.

It was a process of trial and error. We failed with the first 2 prototypes until we ensure the effectiveness of the system.

A matrix model was made for each line number, and then they were mass-produced.

The design of each sidewalk was created with the same linear pattern of the universal system, just like the ones they use every day, but in this one, the number of lines tells them exactly what business they have in front of them.

Materials: cement mixed with sand and water. Non-slip pattern texture.

Size: 40 mm x 20 mm.

Placement: In front of each basic service or business on sidewalks throughout the city.

The response was excellent. This solution really made a difference in the lives of the visually impaired people.

A low-tech solution that not only achieved many improvements in people's lives, but also generated a brand experience for each person who was able to try something that only a cement brand like Sol could have created.

The behavior change of the visually impaired was impressive and the sentiment was totally positive.

It is estimated that more than 500,000 people will benefit from this action and soon the effect will impact many more people.

Sightwalks can be replicated in all cities in the country and abroad.

The designs and patents are open and free to help millions of people worldwide.

Cemento Sol positioned itself as the brand that builds more inclusive cement-based solutions for Peruvians.

This project reopened the discussion on the need of more inclusive cities in Peru.