Increasing Definition

An attempt to better clarify my challenging of convention

Published 22 July 2025

Appreciate a bit more research of existing Scrabble versions would have helped inform me of some minor improvements of the game’s tiles that have been made already but, I maintain that the overall ethos and attempts of my proposal are still a valid, good and useful update to the game, for modern times.

The updated Scrabble I played recently (August 2025) alongside some other acquired brain injury survivors (although they were without visual impairments) had well formatted tiles but their colouring was a little too on brand(!) for me given it was dark green on cream; the board was pretty busy with seemingly lots crammed in and poor colour contrast, plus didn’t lend itself well to matching tile size with the board’s cell size, so every played word was appeared slightly misaligned. (Although that could be because some sort of clear plastic overlay could be had that would allow tiles to sit and fit firmly in place but not quite side by side?!)

It was a 2012 version I played and while I have been comparing my challenging convention and increasing definition efforts to a (family owned) version from the 1970s (possibly even the 1950s!), the 2012 version still felt like a typical (somewhat commercially tired) update to a product for the times it was made for, not a chance to shake tradition a little and prove some different approaches beyond just repeating the foundations with a slightly different logo, colours and packaging.

My proposal’s turntable and grid additions would have be ideal features to an updated, more inclusive Scrabble; as we played we had the board on a small wooden board with small round sort-of-door-handles at its corners that we could grip and then lift the board partially to then rotate it and the game board to the next player – all while remaining steady so as not to shake the tiles on the game board too much; a bit awkward to game proceedings and proving to me that my proposed inclusive efforts with Scrabble help more than just the apparently disabled (and the need for separate, ‘deluxe’ versions).

For a well-known game, my challenging convention work is an attempt at showing (and proving) how some impairments can be better accommodated through helpful additions, not separate versions, to enhance involvement across audiences, improve mainstream perspectives of interacting in the world and potentially bring new life to an old product.

Some of my laser-etched demonstration tiles are scattered amongst some old-style Scrabble tiles and clearly demonstrate (despite them not having stuck on braille and being a little rough around the edges because of their hand painted nature) the clarity and increased definition that can come from improved typesetting and colour contrast. — Comparing some of my (hand painted and inked) demonstration’s tiles against some old-style Scrabble tiles.

My efforts, at this stage, are themselves exclusive from the ins and outs of the owner(s) of the game’s awareness and details of it, like what can and can’t be done because of rights and intellectual property and as such it may be that what I am suggesting is not able to even happen!

But, aside from that as there is always hope for change, here is my attempt at increasing definition of my challenge of convention and potentially helping be a clearer advertisement of possibility and maybe prompting the start of a conversation and some collaboration with the relevant organisations and people to make this proposal happen.

Basics

My modular proposal of an updated Scrabble aims to achieve . . .

More mainstream awareness (and improved understanding and acceptance) of visual (maybe even some learning) impairments.
Better adaptation through items like a grid, double-sided, edged tiles with braille and light and dark double-sided boards that can all offer better inclusivity for all, not just the impaired.
Increased appreciation (even sales!) of an updated game that could bring more people (albeit English speakers only!) together, facilitate broader awareness and understanding of some impairments across the mainstream.
Improved clarity of focus through better colour contrast and fewer repetitions of type with inventive approaches to aspects of the game, like the multiplier cells’ inverse braille, and the stable (aiding touch of played tiles), neutral-coloured additions – the grid and tray that can sit around the board – which aim to show that better inclusion of some impairments to a product can be better for everyone.
Retention of the typical-look of played tiles on a Scrabble board (not like a crossword with lines between letters) even when double-sided, edged tiles are positioned into a grid over the board, despite their more tactile elements that assist those that touch to see.

Hairs can be split over sizes, especially of tiles, but those I chose I believe will work well for a wide range of audiences.

However, realistically, given my assumptions and guesswork around tile sizes from some light research that initially led my thinking, I would posit that some broader and more involved research be done so as some valid learnings can be accrued to better lead a final tile size (that may well be closer to the slightly unique Scrabble rectangle with rounded edges) that informs all other game parts, rather than depending on my (proposal’s) ‘vision’!

But, there is not a lot in the sizing I have chosen really and, with modularity being the key driver and feature of the update I propose to Scrabble, it hopefully would be a short process to discover an appropriate middle-ground of tile size between the original trademark needs (like slightly rectangular tiles with rounded edges) and also various audiences to then be led by those findings and essentials to produce all other game elements for a new era of the game!

Please note

Braille is shown as green dots in this page’s images just to show its important inclusion, not its final production appearance which is slightly raised bumps within existing surface colours. (Its lighter-green appearance on side views of tiles is merely to imply its presence, not final production position.)
All sizing, in this article and its images, is in millimetres.
Font size of tile letters, ironically in this increasing definition attempt, despite being the same typeface (and weight) of my challenging convention demonstration (which was 54 point), is a bit smaller at just 50 point; letter font of tiles is Transport New Medium and font of point value font is Avenir Next Demi Bold at 18 point (and uses a capital i for the number one).
The grey spaces to the right and left of my illustrations of boards and grids are for (carefully and appropriately) applied branding and aspects of the game that could benefit from being visible (even touchable with braille) as well – information that assists separate paper instructions rather than adding, even duplicating, more stuff and so creating more visual noise that doesn’t really help anyone.

Key parts

Next follows the explanations and plans that aim to clarify and show off the potential of an update to Scrabble that can work for more and bring them alongside each other, face-to-face and better seeing and understand different ways of perceiving the world.

Classic and double-sided, edged tiles

Below are two plans: one that show off a classic, straight-edged, square tile; another showing an edged, double-sided tile with braille.

A light-blue background has a plan of a classic, white and written one-side Scrabble tile above it showing its various sides – top and bottom; its front shows the letter A and its points value of one; its rear shows that it is slightly indented, by 2 millimetres with a 1.5 millimetre edge within its whole; it measures 21 millimetres square and is 4 millimetres deep. — A plan of a classic Scrabble tile.

A light-blue background has a plan of a proposed double-sided, edged Scrabble tile above it showing various sides around its two square faces; one face is white with a black letter and points value and the other face is black with a white letter and points value; both faces show the letter Z with its points value of ten and detail the slight edging all around it, along with highlighting braille in green dots so the sighted can appreciate its inclusion, not its illustrated colour in this plan; a notch to help those that touch the tile to understanding exists in its top side, helping its upright and lighter-side orientation; it is 21 millimetres square but 0.5 millimetres of that is a small edge around it and it is indented on each face by 0.5 millimetres with an outer edge and braille; it is 4.5 millimetres deep. — A plan of a new double-sided and edged type of Scrabble tile.

Multiplier board cells

Regardless of a board’s main cells’ colour, the multiplier cells retain the colours found in classic Scrabble but have an equivalent number of holes that go right through the board, so working for double-sided boards without the need for an additional layer of clear plastic – on both sides – with braille.

In this illustrated plan of multiplier cells we see a red triple word score cell to the left and a light-blue double word score cell to the right; the triple word score has three holes in it, on the horizontal plane, that act as inverse-braille to signify their scoring potential; the double word score has two holes, on the horizontal plane, to stand with word scoring but signify a different type of multiplication; they are 20 millimetres square and surrounded by a 1 millimetre dividing line. — Multiplier cells for a triple word score and a double word score.

In this illustrated plan of multiplier cells we see a blue triple letter score cell to the left and a light-blue double letter score cell to the right; the triple letter score has three holes in it, on the vertical plane, that act as inverse-braille to signify their scoring potential; the double letter score has two holes, on the vertical plane, to stand with letter scoring but signify a different type of multiplication; they are 20 millimetres square and surrounded by a 1 millimetre dividing line. — Multiplier cells for a triple letter score and a double letter score.

A key for explaining these multiplier cells will be required and no doubt clear, concise words can be added to printed and braille instructions but given a foldable Scrabble board has a little space on either side of it, the larger area of the two could have equivalents of them with suitable printed words.

But, as mentioned in my challenging convention article (or one of its four making of parts!) each tile holder could have its own equivalent of a multiplier cell key (reasonably accessible given they hold tiles!) on it so players, particularly the visually impaired, have access to it without endless faff of asking and finding instructions during a game!

Layered options of game parts

Two plans, that despite having (a few) parts to scale are mostly for illustrative purposes to showcase how parts are layered. One plan shows a close-up side view of tiles, grid, board, tray and turntable, the other a double-sided board that can be flipped for a lighter or darker background, with a to scale side view underneath of all elements.

An illustration that shows, for clarity and as such only partly to scale, the elements that can stack: a turntable sits first, at the bottom; a tray can sit over it so that the whole game can be rotated between players; the bay of the tray holds the board; a grid could sit above the board to hold double-sided, edged tiles;, if the grid is not needed, classic tiles that can sit flush beside each other on the board, with potentially the tray still being utilised for player convenience; all showing the effectiveness of modularity, not product separateness. — Showing a side view that illustrates the stacking of elements depending on tile set used and player need.

An illustration of both sides of a double-sided board that would be foldable (and which is shown by a purple dotted line) with a light-green side and a dark-green side all above a side view of the game’s elements, which are to scale, that show how modularity of the game lets player need drive its arrangement, not product separateness per impairment. — Showing a double-sided board and how, in a side view, modular items stack beneath.

Classic tiles

In the first image of this section we show how a classic, flush set of tiles can be positioned on a classic-coloured board with new multiplier cells that, with their relevant colour, have holes not typography to inform players.

In the second and final image of this section, a set of classic tiles could be made but have an appropriate typeface that is more suitable for those with dyslexia.

Potentially, these two typographic approaches could be either side of one set of classic tiles, demonstrating an approach that is mainstream but that has a secondary usefulness.

A close-up, illustrated view of some classic Scrabble tiles on a segment of a board that itself show a few multiplier cells with holes – triple letter and word and double letter and word – around those tiles; a few of the tiles shown are the letters K, S, Q, U, A and J, U, M, P, partly chosen to help show variety in typesetting and in their points value which is numbered in the bottom-right of the tile. — Some classic tiles on a classic board.

The tiles in the images above sit on a possible variant of a double-sided board that could be coloured one side in a (sort of?) old-style Scrabble board colour of light stone; its reverse would then be a darker shade of that colour to fulfil the double-sided point of my proposed boards – that of providing stronger contrast between game items for players.

Double-sided, edged tiles

With a board, a grid place above it which itself grips a tray that is holding said board, a set of double-sided, edged tiles can played so sitting steadily and staying in position if touch is used to see them.

Showing some black, double-sided and edged tiles, sat in a grid that is above the board.

Showing some white, double-sided and edged tiles, sat in a grid that is above the board.

Each side is an inversion of colours and in these examples white on black, black on white, yellow on black and black on yellow; the first set of tiles (white and black) sits on a ‘classic’ Scrabble-coloured board which has light-green cells one side, dark-green cells the other; the last tile set (yellow and black) sit above a board that has white cells one side and black cells on its other side.

Showing some black, double-sided and edged tiles, sat in a grid that is above the board.

Showing some yellow, double-sided and edged tiles, sat in a grid that is above the board.

Grid

The grid is, in my proposal, a 2 millimetre deep structure (and its dividers 1 millimetre wide) that can be laid over a board; it is essentially a slightly raised layer exactly matching the printed board’s dividing lines between cells (which are 1mm thick).

A light-blue background has a plan showing at its top a Scrabble board – with its multiplier cells scattered amongst mostly plain white cells – being held in a tray that itself is not much bigger than the board; beneath that is a side view of elements showing how they are layered: turntable at base, then tray above and then a foldable board in the tray’s bay. — Showing the white side of a double-sided board in the bay of a tray, ready to take a grid.

A light-blue background has a plan showing at its top a Scrabble board – with its multiplier cells scattered amongst mostly plain black cells – being held in a tray that itself is not much bigger than the board; it is the same board as the previous image shows but has been flipped and demonstrates how a grid can be placed above the board to hold double-sided, edged tiles; beneath is a side view of elements showing how they are layered: turntable at base, then tray above and then a foldable board in the tray’s bay and a grid on top. — Showing the same board, flipped, to show its black side, with a grid above it.

The sizing of braille and the raised border to my double-sided and edged tiles could be raised to one (even one and half) millimetre(s).

After learning of possible insensitivity with touch of braille in older age groups (which are just as important in my proposed unification of Scrabble!) it struck me that the horizontal and vertical size and positioning of braille should follow its existing logic but its height (the raised bump effect) could be raised to become just a bit more effective for the old and even the younger that may be learning to understand braille; presented like the braille that is applied to the rather decent Sanex plastic bath and shower gel units would be pretty ideal.

Plus, in a slight aside and thought of back when I was thinking about these game possibilities, magnets could be used instead of holding tiles in with a grid but they would need to be pretty strong to be sufficient to enable tiles to stay in place (as well as for them to be all ‘original’, flush-style) when touched for their braille.

However, that would no doubt increase the prices of making and selling that kind of approach to my proposed modular Scrabble. More modern and slick maybe but a little too ‘clean’ in my opinion and also much more likely to ‘fall apart’ quite often when the game is played thus affecting the Scrabble brand, the game’s spirit and players’ patience – for a price!

[For the record this aside was added Monday 4 August 2025]

While the grid could have a clear plastic layer attached beneath it with the relevant braille for each multiplier cell that approach seemed to me like a sticking plaster-style approach to inclusion rather than taking the opportunity to minimise additional add-ons and create an alternative approach that acts as a useful update for all thanks to its inverse-braille effect that aids double-sided boards and sighted and non-sighted players while helping reduce materials.

Sets

There could be all sorts of combinations of tiles and boards but I think only a few types are needed.

Research of various visual impairments will no doubt help find those board colour options and limiting the number helps keep focus to the essence of the game, not wider trends and opinions that invariably come and go and won’t really add much other than marketing opportunities for an agency, or two!

Possible ideas for sets (and naming) is open to adaptation, but you could have . . .

‘Classic’: Just the board (potentially just a single-sided one), classic flush tiles and 4 standard tile holders and instructions.
Macular appropriate: One double-sided board (maybe a black and white one for increased contrast) with a set of double-sided, edged tiles that are the yellow-on-black and black-on-yellow option to better aid standout for catching sight of something, as those that cannot rely on their forward vision to see have to instead rely on their peripheral vision to discern things; braille is on double-sided, edged tiles by default as it may still be useful to this set’s owners or a guest of theirs that would benefit from that feature . . . and so, not separating but including others, relatively easily, through a joined up approach.
Colour-blind appropriate: With a suitably tested and appropriate colour scheme (with even multiplier cells changing to increase the potential benefit of having this kind of set), with just a set of classic, flush tiles – maybe even in a colour scheme better suited – but no tray or turntable.
For the blind: In many ways a unique set for the blind is not necessary. However, for that audience to feel included in this potential update I propose it is actually still relevant; while not necessarily separating it (or any set) through overly distinctive branding and marketing that further separates for apparent distinctiveness, it should have relevant braille on its exterior packaging and any relevant organisations that have had involvement in its creation and signed-off on the product’s effectiveness should be included; and appropriate layout and braille inclusion of instructions should be done for all sets so as to minimise (if not prevent!) the need to make distinctive variants for every set!
‘Deluxe’: All the parts – board, grid, tray and turntable – with a set of classic tiles and a set of double-sided, edged tiles of the black and white variety (with their own suitably-coloured for contrast, fabric bags), four tile holders (potentially like my idea of them having suitably tactile (yet subtle) controls (along their apex) that allows players to input and show their score clearly to others from their tile holder’s side that faces opponents while still holding their own tiles toward themselves) and well-typeset and laid out (with braille) instructions; and minimal, but elegant, branding on the packaging.
Independent parts: Plus, given a certain set of sets could be made, an important factor in my suggested approach is that individual parts should be made available separately (a small bit of separateness I can just about stomach!) so that a mix-and-match ability of the game can happen: surely that’s a pretty decent sales feature?

Opportunity?

I would hope so and one that through my proposal’s approach shows meaningful potential to help quite a few people and show that not much has to change to really make a difference on potentially quite a few (societal) levels.

To show that innovation isn’t (just) digital apps and flatscreen technology is a great opportunity and that by spending a little time and focus to achieve some meaningful progress for more of us that are impaired, it really can pay dividends for everyone*.