Nubo – The Next Page Is Yours

good-design-award_winner_rgb_blk_logo

  • 2026

  • Next Gen

Designed By:

Commissioned By:

Nubo

University of Technology Sydney

Designed In:

Australia

Nubo’s goal is to address educational inequality for students with vision impairments. Nubo is a portable on-demand document scanner, Braille converter, and embosser. Bringing together all the pieces needed to convert classroom worksheets, documents, or any other text into Braille in a single accessible device that can go anywhere.


view website

2.jpg
3.jpg
4.jpg
5.jpg
6.jpg
7.jpg
8.jpeg
  • CHALLENGE
  • SOLUTION
  • IMPACT
  • MORE

  • Braille is a highly valuable tool for students with vision impairments, and it has significant and long lasting impacts on academic outcomes, employability, and general well-being. Despite this, Braille implementation in learning environments is low, which has deep knock-on effects for students. There is a clear need for innovation in Braille accessibility for students. Traditional braille embossers are expensive, heavy, ugly, and difficult to use, all of which hinder students with vision impairments and cause education inequality. This leads to a simple question - How can we make Braille accessible for students?

  • The first problem for nubo to tackle was that of fitting all of the scanning, conversion, and embossing processes into a single, portable device. This was achieved through innovative spatial optimisation, and the design process involved making several compromises in order to balance affordability, accessibility, and portability. The second part of the solution revolves around making Nubo a device that people want to use. This was achieved through user centred design to cultivate tactile understanding throughout the user journey, simultaneously creating a unique visual aesthetic distinct from existing products. Both of these parts were undertaken with consultation with industry experts.

  • Nubo is still in the very early stages of development and has not yet had the opportunity to have a significant impact, though it has garnered interest and support from members of the vision impaired community and industry experts.

  • Nubo features integrated dual-side document scanning, internal paper storage, on-board Braille conversion, and a six-pin embossing head to provide on-demand and comprehensive conversion and embossing from physical documents. Nubo also supports digital documents through bluetooth and usb. Each function is signified with tactile wayfinding and audio cues to help guide the user through its various processes. Every feature is designed to provide immediate independence.