The authors, a working group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers, collaborated to establish the following Principles of Universal Design to guide a wide range of design 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.

QUESTION

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

Major funding provided by: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education

Copyright 1997 NC State University, The Center for Universal Design

UNIVERSAL DESIGN:

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 design researchers, collaborated to establish the following Principles of Universal Design to guide a wide range of design 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.

The Principles of Universal Design are presented here, in the following format: name of the principle, intended to be a concise and easily remembered statement of the key concept embodied in the principle; definition of the principle, a brief description of the principle’s primary directive for design; and guidelines, a list of the key elements that should be present in a design which adheres to the principle. (Note: all guidelines may not be relevant to all designs.)

PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use

The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Guidelines:

1a. Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.

1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.

1c. Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.

1d. Make the design appealing to all users.

PRINCIPLE TWO: Flexibility in Use

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Guidelines:

2a. Provide choice in methods of use.

2b. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.

2c. Facilitate the user’s accuracy and precision.

2d. Provide adaptability to the user’s pace.

PRINCIPLE THREE: Simple and Intuitive Use

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

Guidelines:

3a. Eliminate unnecessary complexity.

3b. Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.

3c. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.

3d. Arrange information consistent with its importance.

3e. Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.

PRINCIPLE FOUR: Perceptible Information

The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

Guidelines:

4a. Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.

4b. Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.

4c. Maximize “legibility” of essential information.

4d. Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).

4e. Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

PRINCIPLE FIVE: Tolerance for Error

The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

Guidelines:

5a. Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.

5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.

5c. Provide fail safe features.

5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

PRINCIPLE SIX: Low Physical Effort

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

Guidelines:

6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.

6b. Use reasonable operating forces.

6c. Minimize repetitive actions.

6d. Minimize sustained physical effort.

PRINCIPLE SEVEN: 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.

Guidelines:

7a. Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.

7b. Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.

7c. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.

7d. Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

Please note that the Principles of Universal Design address only universally usable design, while the practice of design involves more than consideration for usability. Designers must also incorporate other considerations such as economic, engineering, cultural, gender, and environmental concerns in their design processes. These Principles offer designers guidance to better integrate features that meet the needs of as many users as possible.

ANSWER

Principles of Universal Design: Creating Inclusive and Accessible Environments

Introduction

Universal Design is a concept advocated by a group of experts from various design disciplines, aiming to create products and environments that are usable by all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. These principles provide a framework for designers to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process, and promote awareness among both designers and consumers about the importance of creating more inclusive and user-friendly products and environments. In this essay, we will explore the seven Principles of Universal Design and their guidelines, highlighting their significance in creating equitable and accessible designs.

Principle One: Equitable Use

The first principle emphasizes the importance of designing products and environments that are useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. It focuses on avoiding segregation or stigmatization of any users, providing equal access to privacy, security, and safety, and making the design visually appealing to all users. By adhering to this principle, designers ensure that their creations cater to a broad range of individuals, promoting inclusivity and equal participation.

Principle Two: Flexibility in Use

The second principle encourages designers to accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. This includes providing choices in methods of use, accommodating both right- and left-handed users, facilitating accuracy and precision, and allowing adaptability to the user’s pace (National Disability Authority, n.d.). By incorporating flexibility in design, products and environments become more user-friendly and adaptable to the diverse needs of individuals, enhancing their overall experience.

Principle Three: Simple and Intuitive Use

Simplicity and intuitiveness are crucial aspects of a well-designed product or environment. This principle emphasizes the importance of creating designs that are easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or concentration level (Universal Design Principles | Disability Access & Compliance, n.d.). Eliminating unnecessary complexity, being consistent with user expectations, accommodating various literacy and language skills, arranging information effectively, and providing clear prompts and feedback contribute to a more user-friendly experience and ensure inclusivity.

Principle Four: Perceptible Information

Designing with perceptible information in mind ensures effective communication to users, regardless of ambient conditions or sensory abilities. This principle suggests using multiple modes of presentation (e.g., pictorial, verbal, tactile) to convey essential information, ensuring adequate contrast for legibility, maximizing clarity, differentiating elements for easy comprehension, and providing compatibility with assistive devices for individuals with sensory limitations. By making information accessible and easily understandable, designers empower users to engage fully with their designs.

Principle Five: Tolerance for Error

To promote safety and minimize unintended consequences, designers should strive to minimize hazards and adverse outcomes resulting from accidental or unintended actions. This principle suggests arranging elements to minimize risks, providing clear warnings, incorporating fail-safe features, and discouraging unconscious actions in tasks requiring vigilance. By prioritizing safety and error prevention, designers can create designs that instill confidence and trust in users, regardless of their abilities or potential limitations.

Principle Six: Low Physical Effort

Designing products and environments that require minimal physical effort contributes to user comfort and efficiency. This principle advocates for maintaining a neutral body position, using reasonable operating forces, minimizing repetitive actions, and reducing sustained physical effort (APA PsycNet, n.d.). By considering ergonomics and minimizing physical strain, designers enhance usability, allowing users to engage with their designs comfortably and for extended periods.

Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use

The final principle emphasizes the importance of providing appropriate size and space for individuals to approach, reach, manipulate, and use products and environments comfortably. This includes ensuring a clear line of sight, comfortable reach for all users, accommodating variations in hand and grip size, and allowing adequate space for assistive devices or personal assistance. By considering diverse body sizes, postures, and mobility levels, designers ensure that their creations are accessible to a broad spectrum of users

Conclusion

The Principles of Universal Design provide designers with a comprehensive framework to create inclusive, accessible, and user-friendly products and environments. By incorporating these principles and their associated guidelines into their design processes, designers can enhance the usability, safety, and overall experience for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. It is important to note that while the Principles of Universal Design focus on usability, designers must also consider other factors such as economics, engineering, culture, gender, and the environment in their design processes. By integrating these principles into their practice, designers can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society, where everyone has equal access and opportunities.

References

APA PsycNet. (n.d.). https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-20695-014 

National Disability Authority. (n.d.). The 7 Principles. https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/the-7-principles/

Universal Design Principles | Disability Access & Compliance. (n.d.). https://dac.berkeley.edu/services/campus-building-accessibility/universal-design-principles