After recently wearing a “sight-impairment” aid (a set of goggles that blocked out most light and only allowed me to see fuzzy shapes of dark or light), I can see how this would work.
The tiles of Edmonton International Airport don’t just look nice, they help visually impaired people find their way around.
The colored tiles help because some visually impaired people have poor depth perception.
Monochrome flooring in the terminal all look the same and make it hard to judge distance.
Tiles of various color and pattern make it easier for visually impaired people to view though. They also use carpet to direct travelers. The texture of the carpet and the height of the pile serve as wayfinding clues.