Visual communication is just that—visual. But does it have to be? Discover the story of Jillian Sloane, a blind student who, through her enrollment in a university graphic design course, pushed the limits of what society and her instructor, Natalie Gagnon, thought was possible. In this talk, Natalie candidly recounts her blind assumptions of Jill’s capabilities and shares how Jill used clever tactile solutions to design without sight. We bet you haven’t seen LEGO used like this before… Natalie Gagnon is a Vancouver-based art director, publication designer, and design educator who brings brands, content and minds to life. For her, strategic design and crystal clear communication must always intersect regardless of medium, place, or audience. Successful communication—visual and non-visual—is achieved through the creation of immediacy and icon. Immediacy, the need to communicate information effectively, and icon, a strong and memorable form, are interdependent. Whether in her classrooms at Emily Carr University of Art and Design and Simon Fraser University or designing for clients in the private sector, Natalie inspires students to be passionate designers and empowers brands to live their most distinct life. nataliegagnon.ca This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx