Universal design is the design of beautiful, functional spaces that are accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors.

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As Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP) designers, we include design strategies that support mental health, social cohesion, and wellness spaces. Our focus is on promoting independence, physical and emotional well-being, and dignity for all ages and abilities.

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The 7 Principals of Universal Design:

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1. Equitable Use; 

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

• It provides the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; and equivalent when not.

• It avoids segregating or stigmatizing any users.

• Provisions for privacy, security, and safety are equally available to all users.

• The design is appealing to all users.

 

2. Flexibility in Use: 

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

• It provides choice in methods of use.

• It accommodates right or left-handed access and use.

• It facilitates the user’s accuracy and precision.

• It provides adaptability to the user’s pace.

3. Simple and Intuitive Use:

The use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

• It eliminates unnecessary complexity.

• It is consistent with user expectations and intuition.

• It accommodates a wide range of literacy and language skills.

• It arranges information consistent with its importance.

• It provides 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.

• It uses different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.

• It provides adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.

• It maximizes “legibility” of essential information.

• It differentiates elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).

• It provides 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.

• It arranges elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.

• It provides warnings of hazards and errors.

• It provides fail-safe features.

• It discourages 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.

• It allows the user to maintain a neutral body position

• It uses reasonable operating forces.

• It minimizes repetitive actions.

• It minimizes 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.

• It provides a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.

• It makes reaching to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.

• It accommodates variations in hand and grip size.

• It provides adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

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