Social Sustainability

Universal Design

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Definition

Universal design is the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design (Ron Mace's definition; codified in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 2). Its seven principles — equitable use, flexibility, simplicity, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and appropriate size and space — translate accessibility from retrofit into design brief.

References

www.ohchr.orgBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Source organisationSupporting reference

This reference provides supporting context for how “Universal Design” is defined and used.

Overview

How it is used

The framework structures building codes, product design, web accessibility (WCAG lineage), public procurement, and CRPD implementation.

Why it matters

Universal design is inclusion engineered rather than apologised for — the built environment's version of leave no one behind.