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

CAA cuts red tape to accelerate airspace modernisation and support drone innovation
UK airspace modernisation NATS
CAA cuts red tape to accelerate airspace modernisation and support drone innovation
The UK CAA is streamlining its CAP1616 airspace change process, cutting regulatory burdens for modernisation, drones and new aviation technologies.
Aerospace

15 Sep 2026

Global Technologies Racing becomes GTR Composites Group
GTR Composites Group assembly
Global Technologies Racing becomes GTR Composites Group
The company has rebranded to reflect its development as a composite engineering specialist, delivering solutions for sectors including aerospace and defence.
Digital Catapult launches Industry Challenge Led Accelerator
UK Digital Twin Centre
Digital Catapult launches Industry Challenge Led Accelerator
The new Digital Catapult programme enables UK SMEs to connect with industry leaders to accelerate digital twin adoption and explore the application of deep tech innovations in the aerospace and defence sectors.
DVD2026: Five key defence trends shaping the British Army’s future
Image: DVD
DVD2026: Five key defence trends shaping the British Army’s future
From vehicle modernisation and autonomous warfare to digital integration and a new approach to SME access, DVD2026 is set to offer some important clues about where the UK Armed Forces’ land capability and procurement projects are heading.
Defence Events

15 Sep 2026

British Army riflemen test new anti-drone tactics
Riflemen shooting down drones
British Army riflemen test new anti-drone tactics
Soldiers from the British Army have trialled a new approach to countering drone threats, combining acoustic and radio frequency sensors, section weapons and the Mossberg 590M shotgun, to detect, track and neutralise attack drones.
Defence

15 Sep 2026

Global Technologies Racing becomes GTR Composites Group
GTR Composites Group assembly
Global Technologies Racing becomes GTR Composites Group
The company has rebranded to reflect its development as a composite engineering specialist, delivering solutions for sectors including aerospace and defence.
AccelerComm awarded ESA regenerative 5G satellite network contract
5G NTN
AccelerComm awarded ESA regenerative 5G satellite network contract
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected AccelerComm to help build one of Europe's first regenerative 5G base stations that directly run onboard satellites, shifting away from today's 'bent-pipe' satellites that simply relay signals back to the ground.
Member News Space

15 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
Skyrora completes hot-fire testing of advanced LEO engine
Skyrora engine test
Skyrora completes hot-fire testing of advanced LEO engine
Skyrora has conducted hot fire testing of its LEO engine at its Midlothian facility in Loanhead, demonstrating the potential of stronger, lightweight parts for future propulsion systems.
Member News Space

11 Sep 2026

UK defence tech firms struggle to turn successful trials into contracts
British Army
UK defence tech firms struggle to turn successful trials into contracts
A Barclays report finds strong confidence among UK defence tech firms but warns procurement and finance barriers are making it harder for companies to scale.
Defence Security

15 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
Isembard's global HQ and factory in Southwark
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
By opening the capital's largest factory since the Second World War in Southwark, Isembard is establishing a global head office that will also serve as a working precision factory that will enhance sovereign capability and deliver solutions for aerospace, defence and robotics customers, worldwide.
Aerospace Defence Security

14 Sep 2026