Myths about Universal Design

Week 9: HF Audit Criteria

Image: Universal Design (source: http://www.levcobuilders.com/)

With the kitchen audit assignment underway, I thought I'd take the time to write about the many myths surrounding universal design and why they are not true. Making our society more universally accessible and usable benefits all users, not just those that are deemed "disabled". Universal design proposes a progressive way of thinking and an approach to develop an inclusive environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible. Universal design forces the built environment to be used 100% at max efficiency and coming from a trades school, I'm all about efficiency. 

Image: Universal Design concept and the 7 principles (source: http://claudinecasabonne.com/)

So to help along the ultimate goal of universal design, I thought I'd debunk the top 3 myths about it:

1) UD is ugly

Image: Ugly example of a wheelchair accessible washroom (source: Jeff Schmidt)

Image: What UD can be (source: cargocollective.com)

The most prevalent myth about UD is that the design of it is ugly and unattractive. The truth is aesthetics has a part in usability and how easy it is for the user to understand how to use it. Functionality is important but without aesthetics to provide appeal, no one would want to vouch for it. It is the designer's job to combine function and form to create a design that can be used by everyone and still inspire the imagination. UD is all up to the designers, unfortunately too many have failed at furthering the cause by creating such horrendous interior spaces that doesn't appeal to anyone.

2)  UD is for only the disabled, elderly, wheelchair users ... etc..

Image: The pyramid of users (source: http://www.videspieejamiba.lv/)

Image: Increased range of users (Source: eynaimanina.wordpress.com)

A common misconception regarding UD is that only a few members of society can benefit from it. This is untrue as UD aims to benefit 100% of the population by promoting accessible products, services and environments. Especially with an aging population, the preparations we make can benefit the youth of tomorrow. At some point of everyone's life, we will face some form of physical or mental limitation in our ability. UD can make these experiences more positive and hopefully diminish the power these limitations have over our self-esteem. We are all "temporarily-abled."

3) Building codes already address UD 

Image: Building codes don't necessarily cover UD (source: http://www.remaxwest.com)

Image: Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator and main circulation are adjacent to each other (source: http://www.pveelevators.com)

Building codes only address the safety of the building and it's occupants who are physical and mentally abled. It does not take into the needs of those with varying abilities into consideration. Also, building codes provide a "one size fits all" approach that ultimately end up excluding a large portion of the population due to it's ineffectiveness. Building codes may keep us safe but it doesn't address the mental and emotional aspects of the built environment. UD aims to provide the same experiences, activities and services to everyone no matter what their abilities are. UD aims to eliminate alienation of those that are differently abled and to not create exclusion or segregation. Stairs and elevators are a good example of this as many elevators have been known to be located in an obscure location away from the main circulation. This creates exclusion and doesn't provide a positive experience for those who may be using elevator services. 

All in all, the myths surrounding universal design has been perpetuated by ugly designs and those who are misinformed about the issue. Universal design is a human-centered approach to design that supports the user's dignity, rights and privacy. With the advancements in medicine, the age-distribution is changing and with that, design needs to evolve as well. Universal design aims to provide built environments that allow users to live independently or require minimal third party assistance. The increase of technology can hinder a lot of people to participate in a built environment. Technology must be designed with a range of end users in mind and not just the technology gurus of this generation. At the end of it, these myths need to be debunked in order for increased visibility of UD and it's goals.