The Seven Principles and Appliance Design

Industrial designers are enthusiastic adopters of the concepts of universal design. Why? The field has no standards for accessible design yet industrial designers see the value of focusing on the needs and preferences of users. Designing a user-friendly product is a high priority in home appliances to achieve success as a manufacturer.

Ask yourself if these features promote the Center of Universal Design's seven principles listed above. (For more information see the corresponding article on Architecture Record's Continuing Education web site.) The goal is to address the accessibility of cabinets, countertops, and controls in the kitchen by all people and to the greatest extent possible. This doesn't have to result in increasing costs or unattractive aesthetics but it does require an understanding and consideration of the broad range of human abilities throughout a person's lifespan.

Consider control of the appliance. Issues include:

• Instructions close to user for easy viewing
• Knob shape and size for ease of manipulation
• Electronic interface-intuitive function
• Hardware that is easy-to-use, offering flexibility with little or no strength
• Loop handles pulls on drawers and cabinet doors in lieu of knobs
• Larger, easier-to-read graphics on knobs and elsewhere on appliances
• Advanced preprogramming options for ease of cooking
• Reheating and browning functions using "sensing technology"

Appliance height is also of great significance. Consider:

• A cook top with knee space below, allows someone to use the appliance from a seated position
• A cook top or range with staggered burners and front- or side-mounted controls to eliminate dangerous reaching over hot burners.
• A Dishwasher raised on a pedestal or drawer unit so that the top rack is level with the adjacent counter top
• Front loading washers and dryers positioned side by side for staging laundry

21st Century Appliance Design

Universal design principles have already shaped appliances. Consumers may not be aware of this trend for such improvements may have be considered advances in usability and justified as meeting consumer demands though not explicitly promoted.

When specifying appliances, consider the following-you will be familiar with some features; others will be on the market soon.

The Kitchen

Ovens

• Side-opening ovens for easy access
• Easy-to-read and to use time and temperature displays
• Increased glass viewing area and lighting for with better visibility
• Racks that easily pull out on ball-bearing extensions
• Oven racks with edges ergonomically designed to fit an oven mitt

Cook tops

• Stagger burners, cool, or automatic shut-off burners
• Smooth electric cook tops
• Front or side-mounted controls
• Cook tops of a variable surface height
• Open knee space below cook tops or sinks to increase accessibility

Dishwasher

• Front-mounted controls
• Raised control buttons
• Dishwasher installed on raised platform
• Under-the-counter or drawer dishwasher
• Full-extension racks
• Smaller-capacity, top-loading dishwasher installed into the counter surface
• Door with flexible positioning
• Height adjustable components

Microwaves

• Controls that require minimal programming
• Controls detectable by touch and require minimal finger use
• New appliances that combine multiple technologies, like microwave and convection, to streamline and simplify the cooking process.

Refrigerators

• Under-the-counter or drawer-type refrigerators help place food items within easy reach
• Clear, pull-out shelves, drawers, and tilt-out door bins allow easy viewing of content and bring hard-to-reach items closer to the user
• Full-height handles on refrigerator doors

Laundry Care

Washers and Dryers

• Front loading
• Pedestals-10-inch, 13-inch, and 15-inch tall
• New 15-inch tall can store large bottle or boxed detergent
• 10-inch-good for wheelchair access or short individual

The Future and Consumer Preferences

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, 38 percent of consumers are consideration universal design elements for their homes. We're looking at an aging population and with it even more demands for a user-free environment. No doubt universal design solutions in housing and appliances will continue to grow-and because they are meant to be "invisible"-we may not even know it is happening.