This is a guest post by Qpractice graduate Karen Egly-Thompson
Universal Design is designing spaces and products so they can be used by everyone. It satisfies the needs of the disabled, able-bodied, the young and old while avoiding segregating any particular group of people.
Image courtesy C. Reid Taylor
Universal Design vs. Accessible Design
There are 7 principles that the Center for Excellence in Universal Design has suggested. While each principle has detailed tenets, here’s a brief summary:
Equitable use – the design is useful and sellable to people with diverse abilities
Flexibility in use – the design benfits a wide range of preferences and abilities
Simple and intuitive use – use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or concentration level
Perceptible information – the design is easily communicated to the user
Tolerance for error – the design reduces hazards and the consequences if an accident occurs
Low physical effort – the design can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue
Appropriate size and space – there is enough size/space provided for approach, reach, and function, regardless of body size, posture, or mobility
Universal Design evolved from accessible design, which just focuses on the needs of people with disabilities. However, Universal Design goes one step further to include a wide spectrum of abilities.
There is overlap between Universal Design and accessible design, which references the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) legislation. ADA includes the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design which outlines the minimum requirement to stop discrimination towards people with disabilities.
However, Universal Design still goes further in seeking best practices in design, which is ever evolving and improving!
Signage and Wayfinding
The image shown at the top of this post is a perfect example of easily identifiable signage, otherwise known as wayfinding.
Signage for the visually impaired must be present in general circulation information, emergency directions and inside elevators.
Signage requirements: Directional and informational signs
Letters between 5/8 and 3 inches high
Upper or lower case lettering
Sign to have high contrast symbols and a non-glare finish
Signs with the international symbol for accessibility (a.k.a. the wheelchair symbol) are required on signs for parking spaces, passenger loading zones, accessible entrances and restroom facilities (if they all aren’t accessible).
Signage requirements: Permanent rooms
Raised letters between 5/8 and 2 inches high
Upper case letters in a simple font (sans-serif or simple serif)
Braille must be included and must be Grade 2
High contrast symbols and a non-glare finish
Images must be at least 6 inches high, with the related text below the image
Mounting location is on latch side of door, with an 18 x 18 inch clear floor space at the sign center (outside of the arc of the door swing). If there is no wall on the latch side, or for double doors, the mounting location is on the right side of the right door
Mounting height is 60 inches to the center line of the sign
Aging in Place
Image courtesy Rasmus Andersson
Aging in place is a term used to describe a person living in the residence of their choice for as long as they are able, as they age. It focuses on maintaining and/or improving quality of life with independence.
Some Aging in Place design considerations include:
Level entry into home
Single floor plan home
Open plan design
Easy to clean finishes
Bathroom designs with threshold-free showers and lavatories with knee spaces
Kitchen designs with easy-to-reach storage instead of wall cabinetry
Placing appliances at a comfortable height
Appropriate lighting types and levels
Flooring with single or subtle color and patterning; avoid complex patterns
Seating upholstery and toilet finishes to contrast with flooring for better visual perception
Sink to visually contrast with countertop / vanity
Color scheme(s) to complement elderly vision. Elderly people can’t distinguish blues and greens as easily as younger folks. As we age, the lens of our eyes tend to yellow, so older people view colors with a yellow tint.
Sustainable Design
We’ve all heard of green design as another term for sustainable design. Although a simple term, sustainable design sure covers a lot of ground. Here’s a look at a few sustainable components designers can use to reduce a project’s environmental impact:
Renewable resources
A creative designer can also specify reclaimed or recycled materials
Specifying materials is a large component of interior design projects. Being mindful of the material’s source and the life cycle is paramount in sustainable design.
Renewable materials are considered sustainable if they come from a source that can renew itself in a reasonably short period of time, usually about 10 years or less.
Bamboo flooring is a terrific example of a renewable material. Not only is it a strong and durable material, it grows incredibly fast. (Some species grow about three feet in 24 hours!)
Some other renewable materials include: wool, linoleum flooring, straw board, cork, cotton batt insulation, and paper countertops.
Keep in mind while a material may be renewable, other factors may have a negative effect on the environment. Transportation required for manufacturing or delivery of the product to the marketplace are good examples.
Several organizations that rate the sustainability of buildings and materials have cropped up in recent years. Each offers designers detailed information about sustainable issues. Here are a few:
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
GBI (Green Building Initiative)
BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association)
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Greenguard
MBDC Cradle to Cradle (C2C)
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
Energy conservation
Most of the energy conservation methods in a building are already determined by the architecture and design of the mechanical system. Unfortunately, this usually happens before an interior designer is likely to become involved in the project. However, there are some areas where an interior designer can help reduce a project’s energy consumption:
Electrical use
A few ways an interior designer can save electricity is by specifying:
automatic lighting in occasionally used spaces
non-emergency lighting on timers
daylight-responsive controls for spaces within 15 feet of natural lighting
energy-efficient equipment
highly reflective finishes
Mechanical systems
Much energy consumption comes from heating and cooling. Here’s a few ways interior designers can work together with specialized trades to reduce mechanical system energy use:
Don’t specify components with CFC-based refrigerants
Use displacement ventilation in new construction
Specify personal temperature controls and flexible underfloor wiring, when possible
Building commissioning
Building commissioning is a procedure where a building’s mechanicals (eg. HVAC, plumbing, electrical, sprinklers, data, and/or life safety systems) are inspected, tested, run and adjusted. Data collected over time is compared against the original design contract documents to make sure the system is operating as intended.
Commissioning usually happens during the design phase and the tenant’s initial occupancy of the space.
LEED certification has certain commissioning requirements that need to be followed to qualify for LEED credit.
Water conservation
At least 2/3 of the U.S. has experienced or will experience water shortages. (tweet this)
Interior designers can help with water consumption by specifying low-flow fixtures.
Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons (or less) per flush as opposed to the previous 3.5 gallon norm.
Indoor air quality
Poor air quality affects the well-being of the building’s users and can be a serious health situation. Poor air quality has 4 causes:
Contaminants from indoor sources – these can include tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and VOC’s from building materials and finishes.
Contaminants from outdoor sources – introduced when venting or windows are poorly located near parking garages, for example.
Biological contaminants – such as mold, mildew, bacteria, mites, pollen and animal dander.
Poor ventilation – inadequate supply of fresh air, so pollutants don’t get diluted or flushed out
There are 3 symptoms of poor indoor air quality. Here’s the distinguishing features of each.
Sick building syndrome – Occupant’s health symptoms can’t be traced to a particular source, but they disappear after the occupants leave the building.
Building related illness – Occupant’s health symptoms can be linked to a particular building contaminant, but the symptoms don’t improve after leaving the building (example: Legionnaires’ disease).
Multiple chemical sensitivity - A condition brought on by exposure to chemical contaminants. Sufferers may experience long-term sensitivity that returns every time they’re exposed to the chemical.
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