Elon alumna Mandi Jaffe '24 has published her work on how trail map design can make nature more accessible.
An Elon University alumna has published research that bridges two distinct disciplines—visual design and outdoor education.
Mandi Jaffe ’24, who graduated with a degree in communication design and outdoor leadership, co-authored “Mapping the Outdoors: Evaluating Vision Accessibility Through Print Trail Map Design” with Evan Small, assistant teaching professor of wellness. Their article appears in the “Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership,” a leading publication in outdoor experiential education.
The article stems from Jaffe’s undergraduate research project, which began during her coursework in Communications. As she explored design principles, she became increasingly interested in how those concepts could support accessibility in outdoor spaces.
“Being able to combine my interest in outdoor leadership education and communication design allowed for a unique topic and perspective on the research,” Jaffe said. “Combining these fields allowed me to make a greater impact on a research question that hasn’t been asked before.”
Jaffe identified a gap in the literature regarding visual accessibility in printed trail maps. In response, she developed an assessment rubric to evaluate seven trail maps based on font size, color contrast, paper quality and overall design. Her goal was to understand how design choices affect usability for individuals with visual impairments.
“This research allowed me to grow academically by learning more about the research process,” Jaffe said. “Having Evan as a mentor was a huge asset. He gave me the opportunity to learn more about academic writing and how I can contribute to the industry.”
Jaffe currently works as an instructor with the North Carolina Outward Bound School. She credits her undergraduate experience, and this research in particular, with shaping her professional path.
“My OLE courses and this research allowed me to become more aware of accessibility practices and adapt to help make the outdoors an accessible and comfortable space for all,” she said.
Her journey reflects Elon’s commitment to experiential learning, faculty mentorship and preparing students to lead with purpose across disciplines.