Universal Design

By Gerd Waloszek, SAP User Experience, SAP AG – Updated: October 16, 2007 • Original article

 

Introduction

In the 1980s and 90s, the notion of accessibility was broadened to include more than concerns for people with disabilities. At that time, the concept of "universal design" was developed in recognition of the fact that there is no such thing as an "average person" whose needs are to be satisfied by designers – contrary to the assumptions of traditional design.

Proponents of universal design, such as, Gregg Vanderheiden of the University of Wisconsin at Madison's Trace R&D Center in the United States, do not assume that all users will be able to use all designs. Instead, they argue that by considering a much wider range of users at the design stage, more users can be accommodated without significant extra effort. Thus, universal designs target the broadest possible range of user capabilities. Examples of products that embody this approach include automatic doors, remote control thermostats, and Velcro®. Using no extra assistive technology, people who were previously unable to open a door, operate a thermostat, or tie their shoes are enabled to perform these tasks – and for the rest of us, these tasks are vastly simplified.

 

Definition of Universal Design and Relationship to Universal Access

Architect Ron Mace coined the term "universal design" in the early 1980s already. At that time, it was recognized that improving the access for people with disabilities often meant better access for everyone. His definition of universal design is as follows:

  • Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. (Ron Mace)

Universal design intends to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Thus, universal design attempts to benefit people of all ages and abilities.

In many publications, the term "universal access" is used with respect to people's ability to access ecological, cultural, communication, or other resources. The concepts of universal access and universal design are closely related. I would put it this way:

Concept
Definition
Universal Design Designing for the largest audience possible, regardless of disability or ability to speak the native language
... is a design strategy that helps to reach the goal of ...  
Universal Access Access to all audiences, regardless of physical disabilities or technological limitations

Thus, universal design is a design strategy aimed at making universal access possible.

 

Principles of Universal Design

Several Websites are devoted to the topic of universal design, with the Center for Universal Design's (CUD) site being the most prominent. On this site, seven principles of universal design are formulated and guidelines provided for realizing the principles:

No.
Principle and Definition
Guidelines
1

Equitable Use

The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
  • Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
  • Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
  • Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.
  • Make the design appealing to all users.
2

Flexibility in Use

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
  • Provide choice in methods of use.
  • Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
  • Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
  • Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
3

Simple and Intuitive

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

  • Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
  • Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
  • Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
  • Arrange information in a way that is consistent with its importance.
  • Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.
4

Perceptible Information

The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

  • Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
  • Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
  • Maximize the "legibility" of essential information.
  • Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
  • Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.
5

Tolerance for Error

The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

  • Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: the elements used most often, should be the most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
  • Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
  • Provide fail-safe features.
  • Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.
6

Low Physical Effort

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

  • Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
  • Require only reasonable physical movement to operate.
  • Minimize repetitive actions.
  • Minimize sustained physical effort.
7

Size and Space for Approach and Use

Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

  • Provide a clear line of sight to important elements when seated or standing.
  • Ensure all components are within comfortable reach of users when seated or standing.
  • Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
  • Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.


Table 1: Principles of universal design and guidelines for accomplishing the principles

 

Examples

Let me illustrate the principle of universal design with a few examples.

Most pieces of flatware, such as knives, forks, or spoons are universal in the sense that right-handed and left-handed people can use them equally well; this is due to the fact that they are designed symmetrically.

Typically, we realize that a design is not universal in the case of a breakdown. This is the case when I use a pastry fork and find out that it does not cut the pastry well: As I am left-handed, the sharp edge is on the wrong side for me; using it is like using a knife with the blade upside down. There are many more tools that are not designed symmetrically . scissors are another example of these. There are even shops that sell tools and everyday appliances for left-handed people and – you guessed it – they sell a lot of scissors. These gadgets are, of course, not universal designs because they serve a minority and are not "usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design." A truly "universal" pastry fork might have two sharp edges (the better design) or none (the useless design).

Another important area for applying universal design is housing. According to the Center of Universal Design, the goal is to allow for the housing for the lifespan of all people: Households "age in place" over the life cycle without requiring significant expenses for remodeling. Universal design features in housing can be, for example:

  • Entrances with no steps
  • Bathrooms with no steps
  • Kitchens with cabinets in the proper height
  • Wider doorways
  • Light switches and electrical receptacles located at a height that is more reachable

The Next Generation Universal Home project from 1998 tried to put these ideas into practice.

 

Institutions

Several institutions promote the concept of universal design. The most prominent among these is the Center for Universal Design (CUD) in North Carolina. It was established in 1989 and given its present name in 1996. The Center's mission is "to improve the built environment and related products for all users by impacting change in policies and procedures through research, information, training, and design assistance."

The Center for Inclusive Design & Environmental Access (IDeA) is dedicated to improving the design of environments and products by making them more usable, safer and appealing to people with a wide range of abilities through their life span.

The Universal Design Special Interest Section (IDSA) started with a 9-member Universal Design Committee in 1993. Currently, there are over 600 members, including the elderly, future elderly people, and people with temporary or permanent disabilities.

The European Institute for Design and Disability (EIDD) was founded in Dublin in 1993 with the aim of promoting better design for people with disabilities: "The founding philosophy of the Institute has always been embedded in design-for-all, a philosophy which aims to improve the life of everyone through design."

 

Conclusion

This article can only provide an initial introduction to the principle of universal design. I would like to suggest that readers browse the Websites listed below to find out what universal design means in practice. Particularly, the CUD's site offers numerous links to a wide variety of topics and resources, for example, on housing, product design, or education and training.

 

References

Please note that I cannot guarantee that the links below will work in the future.

 

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