Universal Design - The Path to Inclusion

Universal Design is also called Inclusive Design, Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but an orientation to any design process that starts with a responsibility to the experience of the user. It has a parallel in the green design movement that also offers a framework for design problem solving based on the core value of environmental responsibility. Universal Design and green design are comfortably two sides of the same coin but at different evolutionary stages. Green design focuses on environmental sustainability, Universal Design on social sustainability.

Institute for Human Centred Design

When Travability was formed our focus was on the discovery and publishing of "accessible" holiday destinations. Our priority has always been on those destinations that offered experiences that could be enjoyed by entire families or groups of friends together as an inclusive experience. That is, no one is excluded from having great/fun experiences with any group of people.Travability has always believed that the true joy of traveling is the ability to share experiences with friends or family. Accessibility, in the way it has ben incorporated into standards, has more often than resulted in design solutions that has segregated people with a disability by building "special" facilities. On the left is an example from the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in the Florida Keys. They have created an excellent picnic facility incorporating BBQ's at a usable height and picnic tables with long overhangs at one end to facilitate a wheelchair. The facility is concrete paved and has a disabled car park just behind where the photo is taken which has provision for side ramp vans. From an accessibility point of view the facility is excellent and certainly meets all of the requirements of the ADA (American Disability Act)
On closer inspection however, I don't believe it meets the spirit of Universal Design or the concept of inclusion. The picnic facility is one of five similar facilities along the same stretch of car park. The one pictured is emblazoned with blue signs clearly highlighting to the world that it is a facility for the disabled. By definition it has segregated that section of the community as special or different. The only differentiation the pictured facility has to the others in the park is the overhang on one end of each table. A far better solution would to have simply incorporated the overhang into the tables at every picnic pavilion in the park. I would dare say the addition of 18 inches of timber into all of the tables would have cost less than the blue signs and paint. If all of the tables incorporated the overhang then every facility is accessible but more importantly "inclusive". The blue signs needn't be there and the population is suddenly treated as equals. In our view true inclusion should just blend in. The first principle of the seven principles of Universal Design states "Equitable Use - The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.
More photos of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Contrast the above with the facility provided by the Frankston Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Despite having been built well over 10 years ago, the Frankston Arts Centre developed a seating concept that was truly inclusive. Between the two entrance doors is a wide flat isle with every seat in the row in front of the aisle being individually removable. This allows the theatre to configure the row for any group size and allows wheelchair users to sit with and enjoy the experience with the rest of their family or group of friends. This is so often not the case. There are no armrests on the removable seats allowing people to transfer out of their chairs if they wish to sit close to their partners. The floor of the entire front half of the theatre is "step less" allowing for additional rows of removable seats to be added in the future. The Frankston Arts Centre understood the concept of inclusion and is way above the requirements of the Australian design standards. For other features incorporated into the theatre's design read our full blog.

Travability champions the concept of Universal Design and true inclusion. We encourage all travel, entertainment and hospitality venues to think about inclusion and to look beyond the required design standards. We are always to looking for good examples to promote so if you know of any please let us know.

The seven principles of Universal Design by Scott Rains are set out below.

Universal Design: The Seven Principles

View more presentations from Scott Rains.


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	Universal Design - The Path to Inclusion Universal Design is also called Inclusive Design, Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but an orientation to any design process that starts with a responsibility to the experience of the user. It has a parallel in the green design movement that also offers a framework for design problem solving based on the core value of environmental responsibility. Universal Design and green design are comfortably two sides of the same coin but at different evolutionary stages. Green design focuses on environmental sustainability, Universal Design on social sustainability. Institute for Human Centred Design When Travability was formed our focus was on the discovery and publishing of "accessible" holiday destinations. Our priority has always been on those destinations that offered experiences that could be enjoyed by entire families or groups of friends together as an inclusive experience. That is, no one is excluded from having great/fun experiences with any group of people.Travability has always believed that the true joy of traveling is the ability to share experiences with friends or family. Accessibility, in the way it has ben incorporated into standards, has more often than resulted in design solutions that has segregated people with a disability by building "special" facilities. On the left is an example from the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in the Florida Keys. They have created an excellent picnic facility incorporating BBQ's at a usable height and picnic tables with long overhangs at one end to facilitate a wheelchair. The facility is concrete paved and has a disabled car park just behind where the photo is taken which has provision for side ramp vans. From an accessibility point of view the facility is excellent and certainly meets all of the requirements of the ADA (American Disability Act) On closer inspection however, I don't believe it meets the spirit of Universal Design or the concept of inclusion. The picnic facility is one of five similar facilities along the same stretch of car park. The one pictured is emblazoned with blue signs clearly highlighting to the world that it is a facility for the disabled. By definition it has segregated that section of the community as special or different. The only differentiation the pictured facility has to the others in the park is the overhang on one end of each table. A far better solution would to have simply incorporated the overhang into the tables at every picnic pavilion in the park. I would dare say the addition of 18 inches of timber into all of the tables would have cost less than the blue signs and paint. If all of the tables incorporated the overhang then every facility is accessible but more importantly "inclusive". The blue signs needn't be there and the population is suddenly treated as equals. In our view true inclusion should just blend in. The first principle of the seven principles of Universal Design states "Equitable Use - The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users. More photos of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Contrast the above with the facility provided by the Frankston Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Despite having been built well over 10 years ago, the Frankston Arts Centre developed a seating concept that was truly inclusive. Between the two entrance doors is a wide flat isle with every seat in the row in front of the aisle being individually removable. This allows the theatre to configure the row for any group size and allows wheelchair users to sit with and enjoy the experience with the rest of their family or group of friends. This is so often not the case. There are no armrests on the removable seats allowing people to transfer out of their chairs if they wish to sit close to their partners. The floor of the entire front half of the theatre is "step less" allowing for additional rows of removable seats to be added in the future. The Frankston Arts Centre understood the concept of inclusion and is way above the requirements of the Australian design standards. For other features incorporated into the theatre's design read our full blog. Travability champions the concept of Universal Design and true inclusion. We encourage all travel, entertainment and hospitality venues to think about inclusion and to look beyond the required design standards. We are always to looking for good examples to promote so if you know of any please let us know. The seven principles of Universal Design by Scott Rains are set out below. Universal Design: The Seven Principles View more presentations from Scott Rains.