More support for 'Design for All'

Remodeling Now to Avoid Accessibility Problems Later

By ELIZABETH POPE

Published: March 2, 2011

Even more validation! In planning for the future, people are
starting to become a lot more proactive in terms of home design. A great
write up about this was featured in the Times this week.

So good to read this...

In January, the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show devoted a day to universal design. “The buzz was just amazing,” said Jeffrey S. Jenkins, director of the trade association’s 50-plus Housing Council. “The word is U.D. is the ‘new green.’ ”

Finding inspiration

A few images to inspire the design of the Bath Bench project currently underway.
Referencing natural materials and interesting shapes, I've started sketching...

I'm in the early phases, mostly thinking about shapes as well as functionality. The transfer from wheelchair to bath bench, or from standing to bath bench requires a lot of consideration, and a well designed bath bench can increase safety tremendously.

Above are a few shots of an early sketch model referencing a few different concepts from my sketches. I made a very rough buck and put it in the tub for scale and was pleased with how it was complimentary to the curve of the basin.

5 Ways to Feel Better at Work

5 Ways to Feel Better at Work -- Literally: SELF.com

Click on the link above to read my input on SELF magazine online! A few ergonomic tips for your office can go a long way

A Day in the Life

I have over 8 years of clinical experience, working with people to gain independence in the face of some very difficult physical barriers. A concept occurred to me while relaying a story about pleading with patients to get a shower chair after orthopedic surgery, stroke or amputation to reduce falls in the bathroom:
if people are resisting the use of certain products, clearly there is a design opportunity here. 


I cannot tell you how many times this option is suggested by a patient....
(the classic lawn chair used as a substitute for an actual bath chair)

Its not a terrible idea in theory, its light, less expensive, and easy to procure since its pretty much sold in every home goods store in the US. The problem is, it simply isn't designed with the safety features in mind, such as non-skid feet, bariatric weight tolerance, & a wide base of support to reduce tipping, among others. 

However to be honest, its hard to make an argument when you're trying to convince someone that this will fit better in their home environment....

We all know that a lot of the bath chairs out there are fairly mechanistic in their appearance, and could benefit from better design, more interesting materials, colors, and perhaps even more opportunity for versatility. But what if on top of this, there was a sense of prideful ownership? What if the design was so well executed that people brought their bath chairs onto the patio in the summer because the style was versatile enough to allow the product to exist in either area beautifully?

Haptica

 A nice example of design that attends to an underserved market with

outcomes that are alluring to the masses...

Watch the video!

Design that matters

I've recently had the fortunate opportunity to correspond with James J. Pirkl, FIDSA
who is the Founding Director of Transgenerational Design Matters, a private
educational, research, and advocacy organization. I respect the mission
immensely, as it focuses on proactive, intuitive and necessary design interventions
rather than simply devising adaptive products that reinforce functional debility.
And as an Occupational Therapist, I'm elated to find a fellow Industrial Designer
who has also lectured extensively both within the Design and Therapeutic communities
to build awareness of the need for better design within people's preferred contexts.

From the mission statement:


As we enter the new millennium, one can only speculate the impact that transgenerational design will have on tomorrow's products and environments.


The answer, of course, will be determined not only by the demands of the marketplace, but also the degree of societal sensitivity demonstrated by the fruits of tomorrow's designers ; how well they unite the forms of function and beauty with human needs and diversity of age and ability —the essense of professional design service and responsibility.

Are we up to the challenge?

Read more:http://www.transgenerational.org/viewpoint/transgenerational.htm#ixzz1DIK0bP2q

Re-branding Universal Design

The term Universal Design (UD), while well intentioned, has become a bit outdated. While the principles of UD should be innate in all design, there is still quite a lot of room for improvement. There's got to be a better way to infuse these concepts in the design of everyday things than by simply
completing an ADA compliance checklist.

(this is so 1991)


















This is why I'm proposing a sort of Universal Design re-branding. A way to introduce new forms and
concepts to items that people can use in numerous contexts. Design that is quietly and harmoniously
integrated into people's lives.