Universal Design.. A concept of justice in Design!

Universal Design:

Universal design comprises of very strong words together. One is universal and one is design. Being universal is based on the concept of equal and justified access to everyone, everything without any discrimination.

The other word design refers to the planned solution serving in its best way. So one can easily understand that by universal design in terms of architectural language, it means that the design being proposed for any problem ( landscape area planning, interior design planning, building space planning, etc) should be accessible to each and every user of the building without any segregation. It implies the principle of equality and justice.

Today, architects planners designers all have understood the importance of universal design and they have come up with defining principles of universal design; the term usually called UD. The universal design is mostly called by accessible design too. and it is for everyone. this concept is applicable to all disciplines of designing while its electronics, furniture, food, advertisements, parks, buildings and the list goes on. The countries across the globe have started to include the implementation of UD in their building codes and regulations and they make it sure about the practical application of such acts. Penalty and fines also have been defined for further governance of accessible design of building & infrastructure.

The above image is taken from website: http://www.universaldesign.com. The website comes up with the concept of all possibilities to make universal design theory workable in built environment, urban planning, transportation, architecture.Since 1993, Universal Design News network has been educating and informing people about the value of Universal Design, accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

The Centre for Universal Design CUD (http://www.ncsu.edu) in collaboration with college of Design, North Caroline State Universtiy is a national information, technical assistance, and research center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, commercial and public facilities, outdoor environments, and products.  The mission is to improve environments and products through design innovation, research, education and design assistance.

CUD has developed seven principles of UD. the graphical format is listed below:

Principles of Universal Design - CUD- College of Design- NC State University

Design Features to be treated with UD principles:

The common features which come into UD guidelines and principles are: ramps, staircase, flooring details, the clearance for walking etc. Maturity in the concept of Universal Design can be easily viewed from developed standards and specifications in terms of dimensions, materials, spaces for :

• washrooms for disable people
• car parking spacing for 
• stairs & ramp gradient slopes
• flooring details
• maintaining the height clearance for human body

The UD Concept not only facilitates the disable people but also the normal people. Its the safety purpose for people with or without disabilities as when one is out of the house they don't pay much attention to small detailing where is the ramp or staircase, as the world is in hurry and people are always short of time and they want to make most out of it. So building should be acting as kind shelters and source of guidance for its users. It should come with the directional and guiding feature for all of its users and visitors without any stigmatization in terms of age, gender, physical ability. This concept is already being applied in the developed countries and now the developing countries are also focusing on how to incorporate and implement the accessibility of design into their infrastructure and architecture of buildings to maintain the good health of its people in long lasting terms.