We are looking to integrate universal design in a new house we are building. It's been interesting to say the least. Somethings have been pretty easy to get the architect on board with. Other things not so much. We've been using Universal Design in Housing by the North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design as a guide. We are still in the early stages of the design. It should be interesting going forward.
I think you know how I feel about this topic. As a designer, I have always concentrated on respecting the end user of any of the work I've done, whether it's print advertising, packaging, interiors or display.
As a display designer, how a customer is routed through a store is important re: sales.
But the customer needs to be respected. Ease of access, comfortable dressing rooms, etc.
Re: imagining myself twenty years from now ( if I'm still alive)...moving and looking for a new place to live at my age was an anticipatory challenge. If I wanted the house of my dreams, it would have stairs and if it had stairs, I had to consider walking up those stairs at 80. So much for houses. I had to consider the neighborhood and what it featured. The convenience of shopping. The safety. The security. This was not an easy process. But being a designer I was able to consider all of the factors of the aging process that concerned me and I addressed them.
New York City is becoming more "user friendly" lately. At least re: public transportation. Subways now have digital alerts as to schedules. Buses have vocal and digital alerts re: upcoming stops. At bus stops, you can use your phone to see how close the next bus is. There are charging stations at information kiosks on the street. There are USB ports on new buses.
Traffic however, and parking, are another thing altogether. The Citibikes have taken up parking spaces throughout Manhattan. I don't know who can afford garages. Bike lanes and traffic islands are terribly disruptive. The bike lanes are a necessity, but make sure you look both ways since too many people ignore directions.
Anyway - that's my take. Any good designer needs to imagine themselves as an end user.
We are looking to integrate universal design in a new house we are building. It's been interesting to say the least. Somethings have been pretty easy to get the architect on board with. Other things not so much. We've been using Universal Design in Housing by the North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design as a guide. We are still in the early stages of the design. It should be interesting going forward.
I think you know how I feel about this topic. As a designer, I have always concentrated on respecting the end user of any of the work I've done, whether it's print advertising, packaging, interiors or display.
As a display designer, how a customer is routed through a store is important re: sales.
But the customer needs to be respected. Ease of access, comfortable dressing rooms, etc.
Re: imagining myself twenty years from now ( if I'm still alive)...moving and looking for a new place to live at my age was an anticipatory challenge. If I wanted the house of my dreams, it would have stairs and if it had stairs, I had to consider walking up those stairs at 80. So much for houses. I had to consider the neighborhood and what it featured. The convenience of shopping. The safety. The security. This was not an easy process. But being a designer I was able to consider all of the factors of the aging process that concerned me and I addressed them.
New York City is becoming more "user friendly" lately. At least re: public transportation. Subways now have digital alerts as to schedules. Buses have vocal and digital alerts re: upcoming stops. At bus stops, you can use your phone to see how close the next bus is. There are charging stations at information kiosks on the street. There are USB ports on new buses.
Traffic however, and parking, are another thing altogether. The Citibikes have taken up parking spaces throughout Manhattan. I don't know who can afford garages. Bike lanes and traffic islands are terribly disruptive. The bike lanes are a necessity, but make sure you look both ways since too many people ignore directions.
Anyway - that's my take. Any good designer needs to imagine themselves as an end user.