The design of products and environments
to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the
need for adaptation or specialized design.
The authors, a working group of
architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers,
collaborated to establish the following Principles of Universal Design
to guide a wide range of design disciplines including environments, products,
and communications. These seven principles may be applied to evaluate
existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers
and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments.
The Principles of Universal Design are presented here, in the following
format: name of the principle, intended to be a concise and easily remembered
statement of the key concept embodied in the principle; definition of
the principle, a brief description of the principle's primary directive
for design; and guidelines, a list of the key elements that should be
present in a design which adheres to the principle. (Note: all guidelines
may not be relevant to all designs.)
PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
Guidelines:
1a. Provide the same means of use
for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
1c. Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available
to all users.
1d. Make the design appealing to all users.
PRINCIPLE TWO: Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
Guidelines:
2a. Provide choice in methods of
use.
2b. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
2c. Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
2d. Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
PRINCIPLE THREE: Simple and Intuitive Use
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience,
knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
Guidelines:
3a. Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
3b. Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
3c. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
3d. Arrange information consistent with its importance.
3e. Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.
PRINCIPLE FOUR: Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user,
regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
Guidelines:
4a. Use different modes (pictorial,
verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
4b. Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
4c. Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
4d. Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it
easy to give instructions or directions).
4e. Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used
by people with sensory limitations.
PRINCIPLE FIVE: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental
or unintended actions.
Guidelines:
5a. Arrange elements to minimize
hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements
eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
5c. Provide fail safe features.
5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.
PRINCIPLE SIX: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum
of fatigue.
Guidelines:
6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral
body position.
6b. Use reasonable operating forces.
6c. Minimize repetitive actions.
6d. Minimize sustained physical effort.
PRINCIPLE SEVEN: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation,
and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
Guidelines:
7a. Provide a clear line of sight
to important elements for any seated or standing user.
7b. Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing
user.
7c. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
7d. Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal
assistance.
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