Why “Nonclusion”?
Nonclusion is an aspect of universal design that moves beyond inclusion and exclusion, challenging categorisations of bodies and roles, and of "us" and "them".
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Who Carries the Burden When Design Fails?
Using a red carpet on an inaccessible staircase effectively places a person using a wheelchair as “abnormal” (Picture 1). When
Peekaboo! The Joke That Showed How Exclusion Makes Everyone Poorer – Including the Included
The moment I stepped onto the stage to begin my presentation on Universal Design, I stared at a huge monster
One Goal, Three Names: Why I Don’t Separate Universal, Inclusive, or Design for All
I enjoy a good conceptual discussion just as much as anyone else, but not when it comes to the three
How Categorisation Shapes (and Limits) Universal Design – And What We Can Do About It
For the last ten years, the concept of “categorisation” has become a critical key in our research. Categorisation means sorting
Early 2000s Universal Design Books are Worth Revisiting: 4 Books and 2 Quotes That Shaped How We Think About Access, Equity and Design
In 2002, Edward Steinfeld and Beth Tauke published the one text on Universal Design that I have read most often,
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Are Accessibility, Usability, and Universal Design Still Confusing? Here's How To Interpret and Use Them
Universal Design goes beyond accessibility – this story shows how design choices shape dignity and diversity, and how getting from point A to B is not enough.
1 Book on Universal Design Every Practising Architect Should Read
Since I started as a PhD student nearly 20 years ago, I have read numerous books on Universal Design. While
3 Strategies Illustrators and Graphic Designers Use To Embrace Diversity: The Case Of Toilet Door Pictograms
I love toilet signs. They say so much about our society and the way people think. We even did a
On Being "Disablised": What Wheelchair Signs Say About Society
Explores how the ubiquitous wheelchair signage contributes to people being “disablised” – a social construction rather than a bodily limitation
Forget Norms and Deviations. Design for Togetherness Instead.
Discussions involving Universal Design often revolve around functions, features or characteristics. But what about feelings and experiences? In a previous
Brutal Nudging – Or How I Got Bruised By A Building
Design can be brutal in how it affects people. In my last post, I explored design and the feeling of