Seven Principles of Universal Design

Developed by Ronald Mace and the Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University

1.Equitable Use: In order to achieve equitable use, the design should be useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. The design should provide the same means of use for all individuals (identical whenever possible, equivalent when not), without segregating or stigmatizing any users. The design should also be appealing to all, with the same provisions for privacy, security, and safety equally available to everyone.

2. Flexibility in Use: To achieve flexibility in use, the design should accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Users should be provided with choice in method of use and design should accommodate right- or left-handed access and usability (e.g. right- versus left-handed scissors). In addition, the design should facilitate the user's accuracy and precision, and provide adaptability to the user's ability and pace.

3.Simple, Intuitive Use: Designs that offer simple and intuitive use should be easy to understand, regardless of the individual's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current level of concentration. The use of the design should be consistent with the user's expectations and intuition, and information should be arranged in a manner consistent with its importance. Unnecessary complexity should be eliminated wherever possible.

4.Perceptible Information: Designs should effectively communicate the necessary information to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities. It is important to incorporate different modes of communication (pictorial, verbal, tactile) to provide redundant presentation of essential information. The legibility of essential information should be maximized by providing adequate contrast between the information and its surroundings.

Laundry-pair pedestals with incorporated shelving units reduce bending and stooping when transferring laundry from washer to dryer and ultimately to the basket for removal from the laundry area.

5.Tolerance for Error: To provide tolerance for error, designs should minimize the hazards and adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. Elements should be arranged to minimize hazards and errors. The most used elements should be the most accessible, while potentially hazardous elements should be shielded, isolated, or eliminated. Designs should provide warnings of hazards and errors, as well as fail safe features.

6.Low Physical Effort: Designs that require low physical effort must be able to be used efficiently and comfortably by all users, with a minimum of fatigue. It is important for the design to allow the individuals to maintain a neutral body position and that the design should be able to function with reasonable operating forces. The need for the user to undertake repetitive actions or exert a sustained physical effort should be minimized.

7.Size and Space for Approach and Use: Designs should provide appropriate size and space for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the individual's body size, posture, or mobility. Both seated and standing users should be able to comfortably reach all components of the design, with a clear line of sight to any important elements. The design should accommodate variations in hand and grip size and provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and walkers, or personal assistance.