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Lecture1.1
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Lecture2.1
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Lecture3.1
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Lecture8.1
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Quiz8.1
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The Concepts of Design for All and Universal Design
Design for All
The goal of establishing full accessibility in the built environment was recognised internationally as early as 1993 in the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. After that European planners, designers and proponents of accessibility have laid special emphasis on the Design for All philosophy as an approach to design and construction that can contribute to full accessibility. Design for All has its roots in Scandinavia. Comparable concepts (e.g. Universal Design, Inclusive Design) have developed in parallel in other parts of the world. “Design for All aims to enable all people to have equal opportunities to participate in every aspect of society. To achieve this, the built environment, everyday objects, services, culture and information – in short, everything that is designed and made by people to be used by people – must be accessible, convenient for everyone in society to use and responsive to evolving human diversity.” (EIDD –Design for All Europe 2004)
In general, Design for All can be achieved in three ways:
1. …by designing products, services and applications that are readily usable by most potential users without any modifications
2. …by designing products that are easily adaptable to different users (e.g. by adapting their user interfaces)
3. …by standardising interfaces of products so they become compatible with specialised equipment (e.g. technical aids for disabled persons).11
When considering how to enable full accessibility in tourism, an analysis of the different kinds of tourist activities is required first. Seen from a very abstract perspective, there are only two types: Activities that take place mainly in the natural environment, and those that take place mainly in the built environment.
It is plain to see that full accessibility will be most difficult to establish wherever tourist activities take place in the natural environment. Instead, wherever activities take place in a man-made context – the built environment – barriers, at least on principle, are far easier to remove or, by applying e.g. the Design for All philosophy, can be avoided in the first place.
A clear guidance and signage strategy benefits all those whose mobility depends on the presence of orientation markers. Where the use of innovative technologies is intended anyway, it should and could be easy to install technical devices that either remove barriers or prevent them from arising altogether.
“Design for All is design for human diversity, social inclusion and equality. This holistic and innovative approach constitutes a creative and ethical challenge for all planners, designers, entrepreneurs, administrators and political leaders” (EIDD – Design for All Europe, 2004).
Build for All Project, Public Procurement Reference Manual, Funded by European Commission (2004/6)
See: http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.reports.228
and “Discrimination by Design” Background document on Design for All (2001): http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.reports.253
Universal Design
Ron Mace, creator of the term “universal design,” was an American architect who influenced international thinking about design. For most of his life, he used a wheelchair and understood what it was to try to participate in a world that was not designed to include him. Beginning in the early 1970s, he created opportunities to demonstrate exemplary accessible design and seized every occasion to educate architects. His illustrated books put a human face on technical standards, and he advocated for creative design practices as well as enlightened public policy. His architectural and product designs, books, drawings, photographs, and students are a legacy that will continue to change the world.
When he died suddenly in June 1998, Mace had just experienced the extraordinary respect and enthusiasm of the more than 450 people from nineteen countries who participated in the First International Conference on Universal Design. He also played an important role in changing the North Carolina building code, which became a national model.
“Universal Design” – is the design of products and environments that is usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
“Universal Design” is a framework for the design of places, things, information, communication and policy to be usable by the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations without special or separate 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.”– Ron Mace
Mace encapsulated the seven principles of Universal Design as follows:
- Equitable use – The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
- Flexibility in use – The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities
- Simple and Intuitive use – Designs are easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
- Perceptible information – Designs communicate necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
- Tolerance for error – Designs minimize hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
- Low physical effort – Designs can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
- 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.
While these principles bear similarities to the concept of “Design for All”, which emerged some years later in Europe, the elaboration of Universal Design practices paid less attention to the incorporation of assistive technologies as part of the mix of solutions that may be necessary to achieve design solutions that are truly accessible for all users.
Universal Design has been applied to a wide range of products, environments and services over the years, including urban planning and design, home electrical appliances and tools, vehicles and transport systems, websites, mobile apps and many other.
An introduction to the Seven Principles of Universal Design was provided by Dr. Scott Rains on “Slideshare” in 2007. (Some slides appear to be missing today but their text is given in the notes).
See: https://www.slideshare.net/srains/universal-design-the-seven-principles
11Build for All Project, Public Procurement Reference Manual, Funded by European Commission (2004/6)
See: http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.reports.228
and “Discrimination by Design” Background document on Design for All (2001): http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.reports.253