Cooper Hewitt - 10,000 Cents

the goal was to provide new interactions for the project, with a focus on users with visual disabilities.

10,000 Cents is an interactive digital exhibit where visitors used a computer to manually select a pixel from the 10,000 Cents image. However, the original experience included no accessible features for blind or visually impaired visitors.

First, We Audited for Accessibility

A WCAG 2 review of 10,000 Cents revealed several issues that needed to be addressed before the experience could work for everyone.

Original exhibit

Images Have No Alt Text

Each cell displays an image of a bill and its corresponding drawing, but provides no description for screen readers.

‍WCAG 1.1 — Text Alternatives

Cursor Size Is Too Small

The interactive cursor measures below the recommended 24x24px, making it difficult for users with motor impairments to navigate.

‍WCAG 2.5.8 — Target Size (Minimum)

Color Palette Fails Red-Green Colorblindness

The exhibit relies heavily on red-green tones with limited color variety.

‍WCAG 1.4.11 — Non-Text Contrast

We Made Every Cell Accessible Through Alt-Text

Randomly selected cells are read aloud, giving non-visual users a way to experience each pixel of the exhibit — preserving the artistic integrity of the work without excluding anyone.

exhibit suggestions

This multisensory experience used three new features work together to make the exhibit fully accessible:

Accessible Screen Reader

A screen reader–friendly structure ensures titles and navigation are easy to move through for non-visual users.

Audio Alts for Visualizations

Visual information is translated into sound, giving users an auditory way to experience the exhibit's content.

Select-Cell Randomizer

Randomly selected cells are read aloud, creating an authentic and unpredictable exploration just like the visual experience itself.

Keyboard Navigation for Everyone

Tab-index support enables full keyboard navigation for non-mouse users — ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.1, ADA Title III, and Section 508. Users can explore the exhibit freely, whether in the original or accessible experience.

Two new features work together to create a fully immersive, accessible experience:

Immersive Audio Guide

A verbal guide walks users through the exhibit and its broader context, ensuring the story behind the work is never lost.

Toggle Views

Users can seamlessly switch between the accessible and original layouts, giving them full control over how they experience the exhibit.

Improvements give visitors full access to the exhibit:

impact

Hover-triggered content is now reachable and interactive through keyboard alone.

Screen readers and assistive technologies work seamlessly with the exhibit's structure.

Custom elements are fully accessible via keyboard focus, and content flows in a logical, predictable order so every user can move through the exhibit with confidence.

Takeaways

Accessible to All

The redesigned accessibility experience was presented to the Cooper Hewitt team, reimagining 10,000 Cents with screen reader support, keyboard navigation, audio guides, and a toggle between the original and accessible layouts, all while preserving the artistic integrity of the original work.

The project was well received by the Cooper Hewitt team. While the goal was accessibility compliance, what resonated most was the multisensory approach — an interpretation that invited visitors of all abilities to engage with the exhibit in inclusive, interactive ways.

reflection

Accessibility and artistic integrity don't have to be in conflict. Thoughtful design can honor an artist's original intent while opening the work up to audiences who would otherwise be excluded from it entirely. If I had the chance to explore user painpoints and accessibility issues after the redesign, I'd question how might blind and deaf users fully engage with the exhibit? How can alt text and narration be expanded to support additional languages?

10,000 Cents