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Universal design represents a basic view of humanity which recognises that diversity in functional ability and needs is a basic condition. It also means that when we have to accommodate great diversity – and sometimes opposing needs – in solutions, we can interpret universal design in two ways: Either the individual solution, which accommodates everyone whenever possible, and if this is not possible without resulting in the lowest common denominator, the universal solution can be a catalogue of solutions. For example, this could entail designing three ways to get into a building or across a road, and it is the catalogue of those three solutions that together make up the universal design solution. Because diversity in user needs requires diversity in solutions.
The selected cases demonstrate diverse approaches to applying this basic view of humanity in education, employment, and leisure.
These examples highlight how universal design has been effectively implemented across four key areas.
Drinksaver is a Danish company that has developed a innovative drinking glass with a lid, allowing you to enjoy your drinks in the regular way without fear of spillage. Drinksaver is committed to creating well-designed drinking glasses that promote independence and dignity by combining aesthetics and practicality, aiming to create a spill-proof and user-friendly product.
An estimated 50 million people globally live with limited fine motor skills. This makes some daily gestures, like applying makeup, challenging. Under development by L’Oréal scientists and engineers, HAPTA is a handheld, ultra-precise smart makeup applicator for users with limited hand and arm mobility, offering them the ability to steadily apply lipstick at home.
OXO was founded by Sam Farber, who created the iconic potato peeler for his wife because she suffered from arthritis in her hands, making it difficult to hold a regular peeler. Today, OXO offers more than 2000 products for the kitchen and home. All products are based on the principle of universal design, meaning they can be used by as many different people as possible.
A decade on from the launch of LEGO® Friends, the LEGO Group has re-imagined the Friends Universe, with the introduction of new diverse characters, to enable more children to feel represented during play. The new universe of authentic, interesting, and diverse characters includes additions of multiple skin tones, cultures, physical and non-visible disabilities, and neurodiversity.
Furniture maker Anker Bak designs all the items we hope we will never need. Anker Bak has received two of Denmark’s most prestigious design awards within a few days for his walkers, crutches, canes, and coffins. He aims to create designs of necessity and make life more dignified for people with disabilities.
Musholm was awarded the world’s most accessible holiday, sport and conference center in 2016. Their goal is to include everybody regardless of age and physical ability. Musholm is groundbreaking and unique in many ways. It integrates accessibility requirements naturally and beautifully into its architecture, creating spaces for all and offering new physical opportunities for people with impaired mobility.
Roskilde Festival is constantly working to reduce barriers to participation and increase the experience of both physical and mental accessibility at the festival site. This guide provides advice on accessibility when arriving and staying at this year’s festival. The guide may be particularly relevant for those who have special needs, for example reduced vision or mobility.
In Oslo, Schandorffs Plads is a small, green oasis used for both passage and relaxation. Universal design has been a primary driving force in the design process. Various types of furniture make it possible to tailor your experience exactly to the activity you came for. Here there is more than one way to navigate the urban landscape.
Egmont Højskolen works with inclusive communities. Here they not only work with the physical surroundings, but also focus on the atmosphere and environment, which is crucial for inclusion. For example, students with disabilities get help from students without disabilities. In this way, the non-disabled students are involved in considering how to make adaptations so that everyone can participate in movement activities.
ACTServices Inc. is a US-based accessibility consulting firm that specializes in creating accessible and inclusive parks and outdoor entertainment facilities. Since 2010, ACTServices has made two national parks accessible: Forest Glen Park (Illinois) and The Gathering Place (Oklahoma), considering especially children’s ability to experience the park and nature in general.
The Nest project in Aarhus is an example of a pedagogic approach, which tries to connect the positive elements in special education with the positive elements in inclusion. In Nest, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are included in general education classes with reduced class size and taught after special pedagogical principles.
People Like Us is a brewing company. The company’s goals are to brew great craft beer and create a lot of jobs for people from socially marginalized groups. By adapting jobs to people, People Like Us hopes to inspire others to do the same and to challenge the societal conception of normality and communities – in short: they want to start a social revolution by beer.
Universal design was discussed and conveyed through a fiery debate and a universally designed concert at this year’s Folkemøde on Bornholm. Through a number of concrete initiatives and measures, the event shed a new and different light on the challenges of designing environments and experiences that can include as many people as possible in the community.
Wheelchair Rugby is a team sport for para-athletes of any gender. It is an invasion and evasion sport with the object being to carry the ball across the opposing team’s try line. It involves full contact between the chairs. All wheelchair rugby players are assigned a functional level in points, and each team is limited to fielding a team with a total of eight points.
Project Opportunity is an employment programme that seeks to give people with autism a chance in the labor market and an opportunity to use their skills professionally. Through planning and facilitating a recruitment process, Specialisterne have helped Novo Nordisk to recruit four new employees with autism in positions where the candidate’s special skills can create value.
SubReader is a platform that can read the subtitles of movies and series aloud for people with reading difficulties. The platform can be used for streaming services at home, for movies at the cinema or for educational films at school. SubReader is an aid for children and adults who are dyslexic or otherwise unable to read subtitles.
Great Minority is a Danish media company specializing in minority representation in the media, founded in 2018 by Signe Hartvig Daugaard. They help organizations that want to better include and represent people with disabilities with services such as video production, consulting and training focused on creating a better and broader representation of minorities.
Olivia Dreisinger, Bojana Coklyat and Finnegan Shannon have created an exploratory project collecting self-descriptions or “alt text selfies”. An alt text selfie doesn’t need to center around visuals or literally describe an image. Alt text selfies can mix smell, taste, sound and more. Essentially, alt text selfies are an access practice, a tool to connect across sensory experiences and distance.
IBG (Interaktiv BorgerGuide) is developed for residential facilities, day care centers and nursing homes and offers interactive communication and planning for people in need of user-friendly and social IT solutions. IBG gives citizens an overview of daily information, resources and activities in a clear and activating way, regardless of where they are.
Apple is introducing transcripts on Apple Podcasts to make it easier for anyone to access podcasts. With transcripts, the listeners can read the full text of an episode, search the episode for a specific word or phrase, and tap the text to play from that point in the episode. As an episode plays, each word is highlighted, making it easy to follow along.
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BEVICA FONDEN is a foundation that, through partnerships, works to strengthen conditions for self-governance and independent life for people with mobility impairments. This work is based on research and knowledge on Universal design as an interdisciplinary and value-based concept.
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