THE PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN
Version 2.0 - 4/1/97
THE CENTER FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN
N.C. State University
- Compiled by advocates of universal design, listed in
alphabetical order:
- Bettye Rose Connell, Mike Jones, Ron Mace, Jim Mueller,
Abir Mullick,
- Elaine Ostroff, Jon Sanford, Ed Steinfeld, Molly Story
& Gregg Vanderheiden
UNIVERSAL DESIGN:
- The design of products and environments to be usable
by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without adaptation or
specialized design.
The authors, a working group of architects, product
designers, engineers and environmental design researchers, collaborated to
establish the following Principles of Universal Design to guide a wide range of
design disciplines including environments, products and communications. These
seven principles may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design
process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of
more usable products and environments.
The Principles of Universal Design are presented in the
following format: name of the principle, intended to be a concise and easily
remembered statement of the key concept embodied in the principle; definition
of the principle, a brief description of the principle's primary directive for
design; and guidelines, a list of the key elements that should be present in a
design which adheres to the principle. (Note: all guidelines may not be
relevant to all designs.)
- PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use
- The design is useful and marketable to people with
diverse abilities.
- Guidelines:
- 1a. Provide the same means of use for all users:
identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
- 1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
- 1c. Make provisions for privacy, security, and safety
equally available to all users.
- 1d. Make the design appealing to all users.
- PRINCIPLE TWO: Flexibility in Use
- The design accommodates a wide range of individual
preferences and abilities.
- Guidelines:
- 2a. Provide choice in methods of use.
- 2b. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and
use.
- 2c. Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
- 2d. Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
- PRINCIPLE THREE: Simple and Intuitive
Use
- Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless
of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration
level.
- Guidelines:
- 3a. Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
- 3b. Be consistent with user expectations and
intuition.
- 3c. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language
skills.
- 3d. Arrange information consistent with its
importance.
- 3e. Provide effective prompting and feedback during and
after task completion.
- PRINCIPLE FOUR: Perceptible
Information
- The design communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory
abilities.
- Guidelines:
- 4a. Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for
redundant presentation of essential information.
- 4b. Maximize "legibility" of essential
information.
- 4c. Differentiate elements in ways that can be described
(i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
- 4d. Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques
or devices used by people with sensory limitations.
- PRINCIPLE FIVE: Tolerance for Error
- The design minimizes hazards and the adverse
consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
- Guidelines:
- 5a. Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors:
most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated,
or shielded.
- 5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
- 5c. Provide fail safe features.
- 5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require
vigilance.
- PRINCIPLE SIX: Low Physical Effort
- The design can be used efficiently and comfortably
and with a minimum of fatigue.
- Guidelines:
- 6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral body
position.
- 6b. Use reasonable operating forces.
- 6c. Minimize repetitive actions.
- 6d. Minimize sustained physical effort.
- PRINCIPLE SEVEN: 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.
- Guidelines:
- 7a. Provide a clear line of sight to important elements
for any seated or standing user.
- 7b. Make reach to all components comfortable for any
seated or standing user.
- 7c. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
- 7d. Provide adequate space for the use of assistive
devices or personal assistance.
Please note that these Principles of Universal Design
address only universally usable design, while the practice of design involves
more than consideration for usability. Designers must also incorporate other
considerations such as economic, engineering, cultural, gender, and
environmental concerns in their design processes. These Principles offer
designers guidance to better integrate features that meet the needs of as many
users as possible.
Copyright 1997 N.C. State University,
The Center for Universal Design
MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH
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