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

Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
Welsh flag
Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
According to new ADS data, Wales’ aerospace, defence, security and space industries contributed £2 billion to the economy in 2025, and supported more than 18,500 highly skilled jobs.
Heathrow expansion faces renewed opposition from London Mayor and Friends of the Earth
Heathrow third runway
Heathrow expansion faces renewed opposition from London Mayor and Friends of the Earth
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Friends of the Earth have renewed their objections to the Heathrow expansion, as ministers continue reviewing plans for a third runway.
Aerospace

3 Sep 2026

Ryanair cuts winter flights as rising fuel costs squeeze growth
Ryanair aircraft tails
Ryanair cuts winter flights as rising fuel costs squeeze growth
Ryanair is cutting winter capacity and reducing its FY27 passenger target from 216 million to 214 million as soaring jet fuel prices increase the cost of unhedged fuel.
Aerospace

3 Sep 2026

Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
Welsh flag
Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
According to new ADS data, Wales’ aerospace, defence, security and space industries contributed £2 billion to the economy in 2025, and supported more than 18,500 highly skilled jobs.
GE Aerospace to advance hypersonic testing for US DIU
New Flight Body
GE Aerospace to advance hypersonic testing for US DIU
As part of its progression of hypersonic testing solutions for next-gen capabilities, GE Aerospace is working with the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on developing a test platform for the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) programme.
Defence Member News Test

3 Sep 2026

MOD launches £5m hunt for technology to counter mass drone attacks
UK Dragonfly laser and drone
MOD launches £5m hunt for technology to counter mass drone attacks
The Ministry of Defence is seeing new weapons and technologies to counter mass drone attacks, with up to £5 million available through the MOD's new Project PANOPTES competition.
Defence

3 Sep 2026

Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
Welsh flag
Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
According to new ADS data, Wales’ aerospace, defence, security and space industries contributed £2 billion to the economy in 2025, and supported more than 18,500 highly skilled jobs.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Earth from space.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Open Cosmos is to provide secure communications to the UK Government’s Tactical Communications (TacSys) framework, with the company’s LEO constellation supporting UK ambitions to build a resilient sovereign network to avoid reliance on mega-constellations.
Serco awarded RAF Fylingdales early warning radar contract
RAF Fylingdales
Serco awarded RAF Fylingdales early warning radar contract
As part of the contract, a new software analytical tool developed by Serco - with the RAF and UK Space Command - is set to enhance RAF Fylingdales' detection and tracking system.
BMT launches Maritime Autonomous Systems e-learning course
eFleet
BMT launches Maritime Autonomous Systems e-learning course
As autonomous technologies rapidly evolve and the autonomy skills gap widens, BMT's maritime autonomy specialists have developed a new e-learning course to cultivate broader understanding of autonomy beyond specialist engineering teams.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Earth from space.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Open Cosmos is to provide secure communications to the UK Government’s Tactical Communications (TacSys) framework, with the company’s LEO constellation supporting UK ambitions to build a resilient sovereign network to avoid reliance on mega-constellations.
Serco awarded RAF Fylingdales early warning radar contract
RAF Fylingdales
Serco awarded RAF Fylingdales early warning radar contract
As part of the contract, a new software analytical tool developed by Serco - with the RAF and UK Space Command - is set to enhance RAF Fylingdales' detection and tracking system.