Uno Braille
Card Game
2019 (published)
2019 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Uno Braille was developed by Mattel in 2019 in association with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest nationwide organisation of blind and partially sighted people in America. The set has contracted braille embossed on the top left and bottom right corner of each playing card, indicating the card’s colour and number or action. On the release of the game, Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind said: ‘The fact that a blind person is now able to play a classic game of UNO straight out of the box with both blind and sighted friends or family members is a truly meaningful moment for our community… I know that blind people across the nation will embrace this important and exciting step toward more inclusion and accessibility”.
It's only in recent years that major toy manufacturers such as Mattel have started reaching out to new and diverse audiences. Previously, the fear of high manufacturing costs and limited market size meant there was little interest in producing accessible or inclusive toys but this market is now being recognised as increasingly important. Many other versions of UNO exist and in 2017, UNO introduced UNO ColorADD – the first accessible card game for people with colour blindness. In the same year, UNO was officially branded the number one selling card game in the world.
It's only in recent years that major toy manufacturers such as Mattel have started reaching out to new and diverse audiences. Previously, the fear of high manufacturing costs and limited market size meant there was little interest in producing accessible or inclusive toys but this market is now being recognised as increasingly important. Many other versions of UNO exist and in 2017, UNO introduced UNO ColorADD – the first accessible card game for people with colour blindness. In the same year, UNO was officially branded the number one selling card game in the world.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
|
| Title | Uno Braille (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed and embossed card, printed paper |
| Brief description | Card game, Uno Braille, Mattel, |
| Physical description | A set of cards printed in various colours, with number or other symbols. In two corners of each card the number and colour are also rendered in braille. With the deck are game instructions, both printed in black ink and in braille. |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Historical context | UNO was created by Merle Robbins in 1971. Robbins spent his own money getting 5,000 copies of the game made, which he sold from his barbershop and other local businesses in his home town of Reading in Ohio, USA. Later Robbins sold the rights (retaining royalties of 10 cents per game) to Robert Tezak who set up International Games Inc. in order to market UNO. International Games Inc. was taken over by Mattel in 1992 and has been manufactured by them ever since. It's widely reported that Merle Robbins invented UNO to prove a point to his family about the rules of the card game Crazy Eights, which inspired UNO’s rules. In both games the aim is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand and in UNO this scores you points. The winner is the first player to score 500 points. UNO is so called because of the rule that players must shout “UNO” (one) to alert other players when you only have one card left in your hand. This introduces a twist to the gameplay because it’s a rule that’s easily forgotten when the game moves at pace - and if you haven’t called out “UNO” you are penalised by having to pick up cards. |
| Summary | Uno Braille was developed by Mattel in 2019 in association with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest nationwide organisation of blind and partially sighted people in America. The set has contracted braille embossed on the top left and bottom right corner of each playing card, indicating the card’s colour and number or action. On the release of the game, Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind said: ‘The fact that a blind person is now able to play a classic game of UNO straight out of the box with both blind and sighted friends or family members is a truly meaningful moment for our community… I know that blind people across the nation will embrace this important and exciting step toward more inclusion and accessibility”. It's only in recent years that major toy manufacturers such as Mattel have started reaching out to new and diverse audiences. Previously, the fear of high manufacturing costs and limited market size meant there was little interest in producing accessible or inclusive toys but this market is now being recognised as increasingly important. Many other versions of UNO exist and in 2017, UNO introduced UNO ColorADD – the first accessible card game for people with colour blindness. In the same year, UNO was officially branded the number one selling card game in the world. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.89-2022 |
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| Record created | February 5, 2021 |
| Record URL |
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