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Presenter: Allison Scicchitano

Faculty Sponsor: Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky

School: UMass Dartmouth

Research Area: Art & Design

Session: Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, 163, C32

ABSTRACT

When we truly start designing for everybody, then universal design will become less of a niche and more of a norm. This research project focuses on the 7 Principles of Universal Design, and it’s intended to be used as a resource for other students in future classes. The goal is to create a comprehensive document that goes over what these design principles are and offer ideas of how to implement them in our work as designers. Walking around on our  college campus as an able-bodied student and realizing just how many buildings aren’t universally accessible was a surprise.
To help create an accurate guide, a literature review of the topic will be documented.  Precedent studies of very well-designed universal buildings, as well as what design ideas and strategies they implemented, will also be included in this research project. Ideally, the drawn conclusions will demonstrate examples of how to implement universal design strategies, as well being able to notice and address non-universal design, helping us make more inclusive decisions in the future. When designing for everyone becomes the immediate action, the world not only becomes easier to navigate for differently abled people, but for everyone. The ideas and strategies for the 7 Principles of Universal Design benefit all people in the long run, paving the way for more inclusive standardization and making every day easier to navigate, in more ways than one.