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Originality and creativity of the idea

The project's novelty rests on an approach that combines information design with creative, sense-based exploration. The booklet is educational and at the same time open to free interpretation. A unified system of information and icons runs through the booklet, suitable for everyone, including people with visual impairments. An essential part of the solution is its adaptability — the booklet pages can be printed on-site at the hospital (in A3 or A4 format) and assembled as needed, as well as supplemented with Braille worksheets. This approach allows the material to be used flexibly in various situations and adapted to specific needs.

Definition of the problem and the relevance of the applied solutions

For children in hospital in-patient wards, the hospital environment is associated with waiting, uncertainty and limited activities. The sense that time drags on endlessly and is unpredictable fosters anxiety and unease. The brief was to create an inclusive solution for spending time meaningfully on the in-patient ward, also suitable for children and young people with visual impairments.
Right on Time offers structured and freely usable content that helps the patient navigate the hospital's routine, informs them about time and various ways to spend it, and encourages creative exploration of the different senses. The principles of universal design and the modular system applied ensure that the solution can be adapted to various needs.

Co-creation, stakeholder involvement and cooperation during the realisation process

The project was developed within the framework of studies at the Art Academy of Latvia in collaboration with the Children's Clinical University Hospital, its patients and staff, and with the pupils and staff of Riga Strazdumuiža Secondary School. Workshops with BKUS patients aged 8 to 17 and pupils of Strazdumuiža Secondary School aged 10 to 17 examined the perception of time, the imagination and patients' experience in hospital. The co-creation process was an essential component of the project to ensure that the final outcome would be a solution relevant to the user. The findings obtained have been integrated into the booklet's content.
The Braille worksheets were developed in collaboration with Terēza Landra, methodologist at Riga Strazdumuiža Secondary School. The recommendations she provided during consultations on the scale of letters and illustrations were also taken into account in the booklet's overall design.

Functionality and technological solutions

On arrival at the in-patient ward, the child receives a Right on Time booklet intended for personal use. The booklet is conceived as an adaptable system. It is tied with a cord into covers featuring a small pocket, allowing the user to interact freely with the content and to store additional materials — drawings, notes or treatment-related documents.
The interior pages can be printed on-site at the hospital following the printing instruction file. It is possible to print either the whole booklet or individual worksheets. Black-and-white printing provides high contrast and reduces costs. This approach ensures the efficient use of resources.
The thickness of the illustration lines and their degree of simplification were tested repeatedly so that they could be reproduced in Braille print without losing their narrative quality. The Braille worksheets were developed in collaboration with a specialist in the field and can be added as needed.
The content is suitable for independent use by the child but could also be used together with teachers in creative activities.

Aesthetics and other experiential dimensions

The visual language of Right on Time is grounded in the principles of universal design. The A3 spread format allows for enlarged print, making information concentrated and quick to take in without overload. Simplified, thick lines ensure that illustrations are clearly perceptible to children with visual impairments as well. The visual language of the illustrations was tested repeatedly so that they could be translated into a Braille relief while preserving the narrative component.
The black-and-white solution provides high contrast and at the same time allows the booklet to be supplemented and individually adapted, coloured in or interpreted by the user. The booklet's coloured covers — in pink and green — match the colour system used in the hospital's wards.
A consistent page frame structures the content and aids navigation. The Braille sheets are produced as separate A4 pages, providing a clearly defined working area that is easier for blind children to use.

Economic significance, sustainability and circularity

The solution is based on the principle of printing only what is needed at a given moment. The booklet is conceived as an adaptable system that reduces the need for large stocks of printed material. Interior pages can be printed on-site at the hospital as needed, thereby avoiding unnecessary overproduction and storage.
Black-and-white printing keeps costs lower while preserving high contrast, which is essential for accessibility. The interior pages can be changed and supplemented according to the needs of the child or young person.
The system created allows either the full booklet or individual worksheets to be printed, ensuring the conscious use of resources. The Braille worksheets are produced only as needed, thereby avoiding unjustified costs and material waste.
This approach fosters a sustainable circulation of materials and ensures the long-term usability of the solution.

Social relevance, inclusion, availability and accessibility

Right on Time fosters an inclusive hospital environment in which a diverse range of children can work together. The material is suitable for all children and young people, including those with visual impairments, providing accessible and understandable content for diverse users.
The solution helps to reduce anxiety and uncertainty when a child or young person arrives at the in-patient ward. It informs them about time in hospital and meaningful ways to spend it, while encouraging creativity and emotional wellbeing.
Such a solution fosters an inclusive experience and ensures equal access to information and activities, creating the opportunity for every child to feel involved and a sense of belonging.

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