INTRODUCTION

This project has a very own finality. The intention is one of the criteria that must accompany the designer in his creative process: he, besides the understanding of the basic and elementary concept of the design, form appropriate to the function, must take into consideration to contribute to the improvement of the life-quality of the individual, working on the "interface " product / user in a way that the object really serves its "function", i.e " object at the service of the user ".

It is claimed that the industry and the society see in this project an input to improve the satisfaction and the well-being of a group of individuals who, because of their visual characteristics, are deprived of carrying out with independence, security and tranquility all and any act where color is a predominant issue.

ColorAdd® system application:

The application of the ColorAdd® system is transversal to all the areas of the global society, regardless of their geographical localisation, culture, language, religion, as well as to all the socio-economical aspects.

Offering to colorblind recognizing independence, a simplier social integration in situtions in which the choice of a color is determinant and minimising the feeling of lost created by this handicap, with the consequent increase of well-being and self-confidence.

The project presents a sustented solution, of implementing an universal code whichis considere to be an unquestionable contribution to inclusion.

Miguel Neiva, designer



"Doesn’t kill, but bothers. The incapacity to distinguish the colors appears, for those who do not have it, a minor problem. And, however, it prevents a tenth of the world-wide population from being autonomous. The designer Miguel Neiva discovered the light for the color-blind ones.

Individual scenery: how to choose a garment in detriment of other one without distinguishing colors? What to answer to a son who asks for the green pencil to paint the tree? Social scenery: how to interpreter the metro map if the lines are represented by colors? How to respect the flags of danger at the beach? Professional scenery: how to carry out a vocation connected with the graphic, chemical industry, fashion or decoration, if they all are anchored in the color domain?

In the first two sceneries, there will be the possibility to ask help to third people, although that creates a non comfortable dependence; for the third one there is no solution. The studies estimate that 10 % of the world-wide population suffers from daltonism. In spite of the limitation that the designated “blindness of the colors" implicates for the individuals, the daltonism has been ignored.

“It is not seen as a great problem. And, perhaps, it is not. But it is not necessary to be a great problem to be solved", defends Miguel Neiva, master in Design and Marketing, which master's degree thesis, defended two months ago, at the Universidade do Minho, was about the application of a solution up to now never thought. " It may not be a problem ", insists, "but hearing someone say that his car is banana-blue inevitably projects an image that is going to implicate not very favorable opinions. The color-blind knows it and suffers in silence".
Therefore, the Oporto designer developed a graphic monochromatic code that, by being applied, will offer "a public service to a small great minority ". (…). "The code represents the autonomy of the color-blind". "

In Jornal de Noticias, 20.12.2008