Principles of Universal Design with Super Mario

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Universal Design or sometimes as it might be thought about Accessible Design is an important piece in today’s urban landscape. How we use and interact with the world around us regardless of any sort of limitation, be it physical or otherwise, needs to accommodate everyone.

I recall being told several years ago that ‘good design’ was never really noticed because it is always something that just works. One of my favorite Steve Jobs quotes is “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.“

ADA Compliance and much more

In the United States, there is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that ensures access to the built environment for people with disabilities. The Standards established help bring about design requirements for the construction and alteration of facilities subject to the law such as places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities.

Think of this as only a small narrow focus for creating accessibility for all. Universal Design extends well beyond people with disabilities.

The human centered approach to design that Universal Design supports is user-friendly and convenient, but is also respectful of user dignity, rights and privacy.

The degree of difficulty that anyone experiences when using a product, service or environment can vary, such as:

• A person who has no significant problems but who would appreciate a well-designed accessible and usable product, service or environment;
• A person who has little difficulty with all features;
• A person who has difficulty with some features;
• A person who has trouble with most features;
• A person who is unable to use the product at all.

The degree of personal ease will certainly vary. Therefore, if a product, service or environment is well designed, with accessibility and usability in mind, all of the people described in the categories above will benefit across the board.

North Carolina State University

A collaborative group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers developed and established the Principles of Universal Design in 1997.

The purpose was to guide a wide range of design disciplines including environments, products, and communications and ultimately 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.“

1. EQUITABLE USE

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

• Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
• Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
• Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.
• Make the design appealing to all users.

2. FLEXIBILITY IN USE

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

• Provide choice in methods of use.
• Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
• Facilitate the user’s accuracy and precision.
• Provide adaptability to the user’s pace.

3. 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.

• Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
• Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
• Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
• Arrange information consistent with its importance.
• Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.

4. PERCEPTIBLE INFORMATION

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

• Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
• Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
• Maximize “legibility” of essential information.
• Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
• Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

5. TOLERANCE FOR ERROR

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

• Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
• Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
• Provide fail safe features.
• Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

6. LOW PHYSICAL EFFORT

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

• Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
• Use reasonable operating forces.
• Minimize repetitive actions.
• Minimize sustained physical effort.

7. 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.

• Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
• Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
• Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
• Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.