ART 3600, Interior Architecture Studio I
Fall 2012-2013
Grover Center W330
Tuesday & Thursday 12:00 – 4:00PM

Matthew Ziff, M.Arch, Associate Professor

Grover W325

740-593-2869

ziff@ohio.edu

Universal Design

Universal design is an approach to designing spaces for human use. Universal design is a foundation concept, that should be used in the design of ALL spaces, for all projects. 

Source Information

1.   The Center for Universal Design, at North Carolina State University:

http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/about_ud.htm

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

The intent of universal design is 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. Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities.

Principles of Universal

1. Equitable use

2. Flexibility in use

3. Simple and intuitive use

4. Perceptible Information

5. Tolerance for Error

6. Low Physical Effort

2.  Universal Design Education Online 

http://www.udeducation.org/index.asp

Universal design is an approach to the design of all products and environments to be usable by everyone, to the greatest extent possible, regardless

of age, ability, or situation. It serves people who are young or old, with excellent or limited abilities, in ideal or difficult circumstances.

Universal design benefits everyone by accommodating limitations.

Wayfinding: People, Signs, and Architecture - Paul Arthur and Romedi Passini

The authors define wayfinding as "the strategies that people use to find their way in familiar or new settings, based on their perceptual and cognitive abilities and habits." They demonstrate that wayfinding, to be effective, must take into account architectural, graphic, aural, and tactile components, and they explain how these elements can be used -separately and together- to ensure wayfinding success.

http://www.udeducation.org/teach/course_mods/duncan.asp

3. Trace Center, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison

http://trace.wisc.edu/world/gen_ud.html

Understanding the Population

People who could benefit from more universal designs include many both with and without disabilities. In some cases, people may experience difficulty in using products purely as a result of the environment or an unusual circumstance. Beneficiaries of universal design include:
People in a noisy shopping mall who cannot hear a kiosk
People who are driving their car who must operate their radio or phone without looking at it
People who left their glasses in their room
People who are getting older
People with disabilities
Almost anyone
In order to design for the general population, it is important to understand the diversity, problems, tools, and abilities of its members.