General Atomics

Muirhead debuts seat cover designs for blind and visually impaired passengers

Scottish Leather Group business Muirhead, today unveiled its newest people-first design concept, which seeks to improve accessibility for blind and visually impaired travellers.



Image courtesy Muirhead


The latest evolution of Muirhead’s ‘Sensation’ collection highlights the importance of texture, colour contrast, and tactile signposting in helping passengers navigate their surroundings with greater confidence.

Building on the success of last year’s neurodiverse-friendly aircraft seat covers, the Scottish supplier’s 2025 collection seeks to inspire CMF designers as they envision the future of people-focused aircraft cabins.

Jamie O’Donnell, Lead Designer at Muirhead, said: “Blind and visually impaired passengers deserve cabin interiors that empower them to travel with confidence and dignity. Thoughtful seat cover design plays a crucial role in making that possible.

“By integrating tactile signposting, Braille, and high-contrast colours into their design choices, airlines can create a more intuitive and comfortable experience – one that enhances accessibility without compromising on style or quality.”



Developed through extensive research, the new collection introduces a range of tactile and high-contrast elements, empowering blind and visually impaired passengers to navigate the cabin independently. The functional colour palette incorporates warm earth tones to evoke a calming atmosphere.

Thanks to Muirhead’s advanced embossing and digital print capabilities, the designs feature raised seat numbering and Braille-embossed safety instructions – transcribed for Muirhead by students from the Royal National College for the Blind.

To cater to the needs of passengers with low vision, the headrests have also been enhanced with digitally printed seat numbers. These elements are carefully integrated into the seat design to assist passengers while maintaining a sleek, sophisticated finish.

Following the success of Muirhead’s Sensory Design Studio last year, they will be showcasing the benefits of their seat covers at AIX 2025.

Related

UKEF and GE Aerospace introduce finance solution for regional UK shop visits
GE Aerospace CFM LEAP engine in an MRO shop
UKEF and GE Aerospace introduce finance solution for regional UK shop visits
In partnership with GE Aerospace, UK Export Finance (UKEF) is providing up to $1 billion (£742m) in financing over the next five years in a first-of-its-kind programme that will underpin a banking solution for engine overhauls and support airlines' UK flight operations.
Aerospace Member News

17 Jul 2026

Rolls-Royce partners with Boeing and Lufthansa to test fuel-saving and noise-reduction technologies
Boeing eco Demonstrator Explorer Lufthansa 787-9
Rolls-Royce partners with Boeing and Lufthansa to test fuel-saving and noise-reduction technologies
Rolls-Royce, Boeing and Lufthansa are launching a flight-test campaign using a 787-9 to evaluate technologies that improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise.
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures has chosen London for its first office outside the United States, with at least $100 million earmarked for UK and European defence technology start-ups.
UK commits £255m to prepare Ukraine for Saab Gripen E fighters
Saab Gripen E for Ukraine
UK commits £255m to prepare Ukraine for Saab Gripen E fighters
The package will fund training, simulators, spare parts and logistics for Ukraine’s future Gripen E fleet while supporting around 5,000 jobs across the UK defence supply chain.
Defence Most Read

17 Jul 2026

Storm Fighter to lead new RAF collaborative combat aircraft family
BAE Systems Tempest with loyal wingman drones
Storm Fighter to lead new RAF collaborative combat aircraft family
Why the RAF is now racing do develop not only a high-end CCA called Storm Fighter, but also a complementary family of smaller autonomous aircraft to fly alongside crewed fighters.
Defence Most Read

17 Jul 2026

RAF awards Boeing £127m E-7 sustainment contract as first aircraft nears service
RAF E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft
RAF awards Boeing £127m E-7 sustainment contract as first aircraft nears service
The £127.5 million sustainment award will support around 180 jobs in Scotland as the first RAF Wedgetail completes final testing and a second aircraft begins flying.
Defence Insights Most Read

16 Jul 2026

UK space sector punches above its weight but struggles to scale
United kingdom from space by NASA
UK space sector punches above its weight but struggles to scale
Britain captures around 5% of the global space market despite accounting for approximately 1% of government space spending worldwide. However, the UK Space Agency’s final annual report warns that the country has yet to solve its persistent scale-up challenge.
Space

17 Jul 2026

Serco awarded ESA contract to support FLEX Earth observation mission
Earth observation satellite
Serco awarded ESA contract to support FLEX Earth observation mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has contracted Serco to manage and deliver FLEX satellite data products to its users.
Member News Space

17 Jul 2026

ESA selects Keysight to develop 5G NTN anomaly detection
6G network
ESA selects Keysight to develop 5G NTN anomaly detection
Keysight will serve as the prime contractor, collaborating with Sateliot to support key technical development and satellite mission integration.
Member News Space

16 Jul 2026

Critical UK sectors targeted by Russian cyber actors
A hacker at a computer as government urges organisations to improve cyber security
Critical UK sectors targeted by Russian cyber actors
A new advisory has been issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and international partner agencies, urging the UK and its allies to defend against Russian state cyber actors’ global exploitation of poorly configured routers, as the UK sanctions Russian state and criminal networks for cyber and hybrid operations and calls out the FSB for a reckless attack on Poland’s energy grid.
Security

17 Jul 2026

UK defence SMEs unite under new Spearhead delivery collective
Spearhead SME member representatives
UK defence SMEs unite under new Spearhead delivery collective
Twenty-eight UK-owned defence and security SMEs have formed Spearhead, offering government and prime contractors access to specialist capability through one contract and one accountable delivery team.
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures has chosen London for its first office outside the United States, with at least $100 million earmarked for UK and European defence technology start-ups.