often be useful for all, proving the philosophy
• CRPD (2008), Convention on the Rights of
illustrated by the late Bernard Isaacs: “Design
Persons with Disabilities, United Nations.
for the young and you exclude the old; design
Available from www.un.org/disabilities/
for the old and you include the young”.
default.asp?id=150 (Accessed on 1st March 2013)
Concluding remarks To conclude: universal design is an evolving concept, it is often known as a set of design principles, but it is also a philosophy, a strategy, a methodology, and a process. We can use universal design as: • an approach to appropriate design. • a means of identifying design deficiencies. • a method for innovation. • a way to achieve social inclusion. In the meantime, universal design needs better theoretical underpinning.
More diverse evidence is needed to prove
its value and increase its uptake.
Universal design has great potential for
application in different cultures and in local contexts.
References • Balaram, S. (2010) Plenary keynote on “Inclusion of Diversity”, the 3rd Inter national Conference on Universal Design, 30 Oct- 3 Nov 2010, Hamamatsu • Cassim, J. and Dong, H. (2007) ‘Empowering
• Dong, H. (2011) ‘Towards inclusive design: the picture in China’, Include2011 Proceedings. April 18-20, 2011. Royal College of Art, London • Eikhaug, O. et al. (eds.) (2010). Innovating with people. Norwegian Design Council • Flecher, V. (2011) ‘Evolution and Trends of universal design in the USA’, Alldesign special issue on inclusive design, pp12-18 • Fulto Suri J (2007) ‘involving people in the process’, Presentation at the Include2007, 1-4 April 2007, London • Goodley, D. (2011) Disability Studies: An interdisciplinary Introduction. Sage Publications • Heylighen, A. (2013) ‘About the nature of design in universal design’, The ESRC Seminar Series, Kings College London, 19th April 2013, London • Lid, I. M. (2013) ‘Universal design and rehabilitation: developing a knowledge base for citizenship and participation.’ The ESRC Seminar Series, Kings College London, 19th April 2013, London • Ostroff, E. (2001) ‘Universal design: the new paradigm’. In: Preiser, W.F.E. and Ostroff, E. (eds.) Universal design
designers and users: case studies from
handbook. McGraw-Hill, US. pp1.3-1.12
the DBA Inclusive Design Challenge’, in
• Pirkl, J.J. (1994) Transgenerational design:
Coleman, R., Clarkson, J., Cassim, J. & Dong,
Products for an aging population.
H. (eds.) Design for Inclusivity Gower,
Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, US
Hants UK, pp89-109 • Clarkson, P.J. and Keates, S. (2002) ‘Quanti-
• Sandhu, J. (2010) Plenary keynote on “Inclusion of Diversity”, the 3rd Inter
fying design exclusion’. Universal access
national Conference on Universal Design,
and assistive technology, pp23-32
30 Oct- 3 Nov 2010, Hamamatsu
• Coleman, R. (2001) ‘Designing for Our Future Selves’, Universal Design Handbook, Preiser, W. and Ostroff, E. (eds), McGraw-Hill, New York • Coleman, R., Clarkson, J., Cassim, J. & Dong, H. (eds.) (2007) Design for Inclusivity Gower, Hants UK Global Perspectives and Reflections
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