Universal design-an old-fashioned paradigm?

Abstract

Universal Design is a strategy that intends to consider the heterogeneous needs of users in our societies. Initially appearing during the civil rights movements in the 1950s, it focused firstly on physical accessibility and equality. Nowadays, subjective values addressing social inclusion or self-actualization are becoming more and more important. Stigmatization especially plays a major role in Universal Design’s acceptance, which is mainly emotion-driven. Therefore, modern Universal Design must aim for both the objective and the subjective well-being of users. In product design aspects of quality of life as a concept of successful user centring can help in considering various aspects of product quality, including subjectivity in particular. In this context an approach is provided to integrate attitudinal differences in users’ perception. Its impact on the modern Universal Design strategy is further considered by introducing a hierarchical product structure.