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welcome about personal environment workplace environment project photographs    corporate    residential publications contact		universal design Public acknowledgement of people with disabilities and progress toward universal design has developed in the last few decades along three parallel tracks of activities: legislation fueled by the disability rights movement, the barrier-free design to universal design movement, and advances in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. The idea of universal design grew out of "barrier-free design" because most of the design features suitable for people with disabilities actually benefitted everyone, there was the justification to make their inclusion commom practice. Known as "design for all" in Europe, universal design is built on the premise that we all have changing needs throughout our lives. Viewed this way, universal design helps communities and individuals prepare for the future as it improves the quality of life today. The concept of universal design was developed in 1997 by North Carolina State University, The Centre for Universal Design and is defied as: "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." The authors, a working group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental teachers, collaborated to establish the following PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN to guide a wide range of disciplines including environments, products, and communications. These seven principles may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments. PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. PRINCIPLE TWO: Flexibility in Use The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. PRINCIPLE THREE: Simple and Intuitive Use Use of design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. PRINCIPLE FOUR: Perceptible Information The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities. PRINCIPLE FIVE: Tolerance for Error The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. PRINCIPLE SIX: Low Physical Effort The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue. PRINCIPLE SEVEN: Size and Space for Approach and Use Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regarless of used's body size, posture, or mobility. Copyright 1997 NC State University, The Centre for Universal Design Compiled by advocates of universal design, listed in alphabetical order: Bettye Rose Connell, Mike Jones, Ron Mace, Jim Mueller, Abir Mullick, Elaine Ostroff, Jon Sanford, Ed Steinfeld, Molly Story and Gregg Vanderheiden resources http://www.makoa.org Jim Lubin website www.jlmueller.com J.L. Mueller, Inc. website http://www.design.ncsu.edu North Carolina State University, The Centre for Universal Design website The Universal Design Handbook By Wolfgang F. E. Preiser and Elaine Ostroff. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional. Published: 2001. Inclusive Design: Desig for the Whole Population By John Clarkson, Roger Coleman, Simon Keates and Cherie Lebbon. Publisher: Springer-Verlag UK. Published: 2003 Universal Kitchen and Bathroom Planning: Design that Adapts to People By Mary Jo Peterson. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional. Published: 1998. Gracious Spaces: Universal Interiors by Design By Irma Dobkin and Mary Jo Peterson. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional. Published: 1999.
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