18:15:39 Welcome to the hundred 19th episode of the diverse minds podcast.
18:15:45 And on today's episode we're going to be talking about universal design,
18:16:02 why it's so important.
18:16:04 I'm talking about this because access and accessibility is a key part of equalizing society and the playing field, and universal design is all about the design composition of environment so it removes barriers for everyone.
18:16:18 Whether they identify as disabled need space for a pram prefer to use a ramp, overwhelmed by strong strip lighting or sound.
18:16:27 It's about an environment or indeed any building product service within that environment, to make sure it's designed to meet all the needs of the people who wish to use it.
18:16:37 And it's not about stuff.
18:16:39 And it's not about special requirements and catering to a particular group although that might come into it. It's really about thinking about. It's really about thinking about design in a very inclusive way so it's usable.
18:16:53 It's convenient. It's a pleasure to use and everyone benefits, and it's the way in which we consider the diverse needs of our users, and the abilities they may have and how that's a spectrum throughout the design process.
18:17:06 So essentially it is anticipatory. It's not about oh my goodness we don't have this we can't change the plans, but universal design, always has that thought process as the front and center.
18:17:17 So that services and environments, will meet those people's needs.
18:17:21 And in essence universal design is excellent practical design.
18:17:27 So let's think about this with some examples how many times have you struggled to shut, a public toilet door when you've had a bag.
18:17:35 So sometimes airport toilets can be bigger but generally, I have felt very smashed into cubicles even having a rucksack or when I used to travel around with a wheelie bag, and it really is a real dancing x sometimes, and then particularly for women's
18:17:50 toilets where you do have a sanitary being that can add extra pressures and really badly designed or the music was so loud in a particular space you couldn't have a meeting, because the acoustics were really poor, and they were bouncing off everywhere
18:18:03 or the noise was amplified. And you just couldn't focus on what was going on, or indeed the lift was broken. And you didn't have the energy to face flights of stairs.
18:18:13 Maybe you were recovering from something you've had a broken ankle before and it was a damp day and your ankle felt so, and especially when there's no gender neutral or accessible toilets or the accessible toilets are not very accessible which you often
18:18:25 do gets or nursing expressing milk space that you need and it's not there.
18:18:31 So I hope this shows that we have all probably experienced in accessible design, therefore creating barriers.
18:18:40 Now, Universal Design impacts and affects us all and universal design assumes that the range of human abilities, ordinary and not special. And those were words spoken by, Elaine Ostroff in 2001, who was one of the co founders and executive directors of
18:18:56 the Institute of human centered design which is a center in the US.
18:19:01 So, I will include the link in the show notes if you want to have a look at that.
18:19:05 And we know that no two people it's very seldom I know identical twins could probably fit into this bracket but even then no two people are necessarily the same and have exactly the same ability.
18:19:17 And when I say ability. I mean, we will have a preference also for doing things, and therefore there is variation that exists between people. And this can be influenced by our bodies but it can also be influenced by design and the way things are done.
18:19:31 Think about the way in which we all like to have our homes, and when we go visit someone else so when we, when we used to and it was easier to do that.
18:19:38 It may think Oh That's strange. Why do you do that, or people could talk about it now I'm really frustrated with my kitchen because of this that the other and I don't know it's going to cost a lot to get it changed.
18:19:48 Because, especially in the UK I do feel that houses were not designed with this in mind.
18:19:53 So, ability can vary according to the type of activity in which a person is participating as well as the environment, their own preferences as well.
18:20:02 And so every person as I've mentioned will experience some kind of reduce functioning in their lifetime.
18:20:08 So here's some examples given from the researcher and academic Molly flats and the industrial designer James Miller, and they say that, you know, think about things like noisy environments impair anyone's hearing dimly lit rooms impair anyone's vision,
18:20:24 and having the flu I think this is particularly pertinent with COPD 19 recovery and for people who are still battling and I'm using that word intentionally with long Cove, it has reduced people stamina.
18:20:38 Now people that have wants to run marathons are now struggling as a result of covert to walk up a flight of stairs, and we don't know whether this is going to be temporary or permanent and what's going to help recovery.
18:20:46 So of course universal design can mean that people can still access things and buildings in a way that works for them.
18:20:53 And it's there for about an appreciation of those varied abilities that every person may experience and design in such a way that it can be used by everyone regardless of age, size, you know I know many people really struggle, people have a particular
18:21:08 stature will really struggle with accessing countertops and tables and kitchen counters ability or disability, whether that's visible or invisible.
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18:21:45 Okay, so what let's delve a bit deeper then into inclusive design, and what this actually means how does it play out.
18:21:54 And what could it look like. Now there are actually seven principles of universal design and I really want to share this with you, and I've taken this from a fantastic resource, which is the National Disability association of Ireland, and I've included
18:22:07 the link in the show notes. And if you go onto the website and you click seven inclusive principles there's a fantastic PowerPoint presentation, and their pictures on there so you might want to have a look, and they've also sources pictures and they have
18:22:20 used resources from the Institute of Human Centered Design. So it gives gives examples. So the first principle is equitable use. So this part is about the design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities, and the examples are and we have
18:22:36 a real problem in the UK, particularly on the too many cheap lines, when the train comes into the station, and the platform and the famous slogan Mind the Gap.
18:22:47 So yeah, printed on T shirts, really famous, you know, great for London tourism but it's really really bad for wheelchair users, it's really bad for anyone who has pushing a child in a pram because those gaps mean, really struggle to get on the platform
18:23:01 and actually so much of our London Underground is inaccessible and unusable to will check users. I also think if I had worked on crutches I would really struggle and I probably would avoid the two.
18:23:12 So thinking about that.
18:23:14 Then the second principle is about flexibility and use. So how the design accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
18:23:23 Really simple example is right and left handed scissors and left hand is really struggle with things because again, things are designed for the dominant and dominance, it can be seen in right handed, right handed this things around height adjustable desks
18:23:38 and you know I'm really lucky that I've got a height adjustable desk and that absolutely brilliant. But of course, the argument is in workplaces in our usual workplaces it costs too much.
18:23:47 But if everyone had one and we all bought them.
18:23:50 And there might be some things around sustainability, but I do think they can be overcome that that would just be really useful so it's good for everyone.
18:23:57 So whether you can't sit down for back pain whether you prefer standing up, maybe have a temporary temporary ill health which means you have to sit down more or the opposite.
18:24:07 So think about that flexibility and adaptability How can things be changed shifted altered. How can right handed shares or scissors maybe their handles can be flipped round in some way quite easily.
18:24:17 Now those are tangible examples, and you might not be a product designer, but thinking about that flexibility and use it could be a meeting space where people also want to do quiet work.
18:24:28 Then the third principle is about simple and intuitive to use, so that the design is easy to understand, regardless of the users experience, knowledge language skills or current concentration levels.
18:24:40 And I think smartphones are quite good at this, you see people's two year old children and they think How on earth did they get into my, you know into my iPad or into my smartphone and they've accessed this app.
18:24:52 So it's interesting how intuitive that they are and I know children can often navigate of smartphones much better than adults.
18:25:08 Principal for is about perceptible information so that the design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of the conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
18:25:12 So thinking about easy read could be an example of that, and how that supports people.
18:25:18 How lighting might accentuate signs have make sure that people are aware of, of things around them so how the sensory sensory environment can really contribute and support people.
18:25:33 The fifth principle is about tolerance for error. So this is around designing things that minimize hazards and potential adverse consequences of accidental unintended actions.
18:25:45 So what are the ways in which I think that you know train the Jubilee line they have this double doors, and that could be an example of minimizing hazards and can be really useful.
18:25:54 and comfortably with a minimum of fatigue. So it's not exhausting to reach up you know I think about, again, going back to kitchens and kitchens that are not accessible.
18:26:10 Generally, in this country in the UK for wheelchair users so I think our countertops can be quite high. I think if someone that acquires a disability, which means they then need to use a wheelchair, struggling to reach up to cupboards and it's exhausting.
18:26:22 So think about a really simple example, arthritis or studio or rheumatoid arthritis opening jars so they're not really easy for many of us who maybe don't have arthritis at the moment, but they really difficult really really painful, simple things you
18:26:38 know the height of light switches all of these things are so exhausting actually if we are not have a particular, it's not assume that we have a particular way of doing things.
18:26:49 And then principle seven is about the appropriate size and space and needs to be provided for approach reach manipulation and use regardless of users body size posture and mobility.
18:27:00 So some examples around accessible gates and thinking about public transport, and how, you know, people don't have to slow down. Gate has multiple smartcard targets to help help that.
18:27:13 And there's a particular line in Japan that does this thinking about the interior of Trumps, and how, like railway can open up for people at different levels.
18:27:24 So it does link I think to the should should have low physical effort, but of course there should also be size and space provided for different uses. So I found that super helpful and I think to start thinking about this is really, really useful.
18:27:40 Well, so what can you really do then to create this environment in the workplace. And, as I said, the first thing is, it's not just about thinking, Okay, well we don't have anyone who's put in workplace or reasonable adjustment request so we can just
18:27:54 carry on.
18:27:56 It is about thinking okay let's look at the design maybe let's get some feedback get an expert in to look at what's happening and how could we make this better because I'm sure what you'll find is where there's some staff have declared a disability.
18:28:10 It could be to do with workplace preference, I mean I think before the pandemic there was so much wasn't there around agile working and hot desk and what that meant and how some people loved what desk and some people hated it and it can cause a lot of
18:28:21 anxiety. So thinking about that first of all and it is called anticipate rigidity, then starting to think about right. This is environment has got some bad or creating some barriers for many people for a lot of reasons.
18:28:36 So how do you then start reducing those barriers now want to be clear it's not about shutting an office or saying right everything's going to be ripped out.
18:28:43 We can also think about the fact that people are working in a hybrid way some people are still holy at home. Some people are in the workplace. How could we also help people to identify barriers in their home or things that are tricky for them and think
18:28:56 about, well, let's provide a sort of a funder pot of money that people can apply to or that we can say right we're going to try and make your work environment as comfortable for you as possible, whether you're at home, working in the office.
18:29:09 So, the workplace should really be able to go through those seven principles inclusive principles.
18:29:15 I think you know if you want to get a specialist in that's probably a good idea, and could start to create and remove those barriers, knowing that you might not be able to change everything I know lots of offices at least this is again not something that's
18:29:26 thoughts about it's not always easy if you're in a building that you don't own to change things, but there will be things that you can do.
18:29:33 If you're planning to move or create a new building this is essential. So to start from the off and really think about how do we want to make the space as accessible, and there are lots of things I haven't mentioned so the other thing I hadn't mentioned
18:29:46 actually was contemplation space or a multi faith prayer.
18:29:58 Those things are so important and it can just be a room it can have a cupboard with different icons available for people to use. Talk about stuff about what might work and many people have worked in very accessible environment so they can probably add
18:30:03 and shape how that goes forward but I know that contemplation, or faith spaces are the first to get taken away when space is required. And I think it's also essential to think about a nursing parents space for expressing milk.
18:30:18 Sometimes people are able to bring their children into work, or if someone works part time and then maybe they have to pop back to the office and they need to feed you know these things are really really important, thinking about how your meeting space
18:30:31 is designed. If people are lip reading the eye contact element of it, t loops are really, you know, the T loop technology and offices don't necessarily keep up with the hearing aid technology that people have.
18:30:45 So often you'll have a T loop, but it doesn't really match someone's hearing aid if it's on infrared, or if it's got a different system so it's really important to keep up with that check your tea leaves check all of that, thinking about space of course
18:30:57 that's an interesting one isn't it right now with social distancing, but going forward if it ever goes back to how it used to be pre covert. We need to stop cramming people in.
18:31:08 So, what does that look like and glasses great and revolving doors look fantastic. They are a real nightmare is my understanding when I've spoken to colleagues with visual impairments, for trying to get through they are, they might look lovely but they
18:31:23 really are not great. So what are the other ways in which people can be welcomed into a building, thinking about handles and, you know, door handles that's really important going back to the point about arthritis, really difficult can be can be really
18:31:38 difficult to twist handles.
18:31:40 So what are the easiest ways you can do that, and thinking about also, you know, handles that can be able to with elbows and things. I think that's that's also quite useful to consider.
18:31:57 Quiet areas or areas that are more calm, thinking about, like you have autism hours and grocery stores or autism special screenings, it's really important to think about how that can be built in, it can be really small things that can be creating a barricade
18:32:09 with cupboards if that's what people want a blind curtain. And I've also included in the show notes, a link to employment autism, which goes into some really helpful detail around how you can create universal design are accessible spaces for people who
18:32:26 have autism or on the autism spectrum.
18:32:31 I think it's also really useful this gets forgotten about acoustics.
18:32:35 Maybe we've experienced more of it over the last 20 months, thinking about how people have echoes in their homes, homes aren't really designed for this but, you know, acoustic song great worker in the workplace.
18:32:47 So how can we think about the sound absorbing, or how sound is going to bounce off hard surfaces can we include some services that are going to absorb the sound that is so so helpful for people and I think something that gets forgotten about so often,
18:33:04 how accessible, our plot points as particularly around desks, it's not great when people have to crawl on their hands and knees I know sometimes it has to happen but going forward now what are the ways that can be done space between death so this has
18:33:18 become better of course with covert, but I know that hot desk getting all their ducks in a row banks, it isn't great for navigation if anyone is a wheelchair user or they're on crutches temporary permanently.
18:33:31 Or they might have any other mobility impairments walkway and some of it links to health and safety doesn't it so it's common sense around keeping walkways clear minimizing clutter carpet can be a really good way to facilitate self guided way finding,
18:33:47 particularly for any colleagues who are visually impaired and have a white, white cane that they use. So there is a you know a lot that can be done and I've just mentioned a few things.
18:33:58 And, you know, in essence universal design is about striving to improve things and make things better for everyone. So if you care about equality diversity and inclusion, this is such an essential part of it.
18:34:11 It is not about singling out a group or saying, Oh, yeah, we've got one member of staff with arthritis, we've got one member of staff who has diabetes and needs a quiet space to use insulin.
18:34:20 Yes, that's going to be really helpful for them. But if we think about this in an anticipatory way. What you'll find is that everyone will experience some kind of barriers and of course the likelihood of people who identify as disabled.
18:34:33 There is an increased chance they will experience more barriers because the site is designed for those who are non disabled. But why do we want to wait universally universal design is exciting, we can have a really innovative, you can be really innovative
18:34:47 with it, and it can have a very high appeal and aesthetic value to it.
18:34:53 It's much more than a design trend. And, of course, go and win awards if that's what you want, brilliant, but this really is about integrating and putting your money where your mouth is in terms of equality diversity and inclusion.
18:35:05 We talk about accessibility but of course there's also usability and that is absolutely essential.
18:35:12 It's also goes beyond simple compliance, and I think compliance is super important, don't get me wrong, but often it can be the very minimum, and you might know that from all the different accreditation and things that you do in the workplace.
18:35:25 So standards are great, you know, yes we meet health and safety standards but of course there the other standards that you can reach and go much higher with and why not do this, and it, it makes it really clear that you are an accessible approachable,
18:35:39 adaptable and agile workplace. I think also remember procurement and purchasing power. So if you're leasing a building, depending on your relationship with the landlord or the development of the property agency, have a conversation about this because
18:35:52 it is incredible how this should be so widely known it should be integrated but it isn't really i mean i i came to the universal design in 2012 so that's not even 10 years yet.
18:36:03 And this has been something I'm really, you know, this is kind of a hobby but a passion as well, and universal design, it's not just about. It's got to be a specialist now by all means, absolutely work with a specialist, but there are things you can look
18:36:17 up and read, and the references I've made the things I've made reference to In this episode, and you can start to implement these things quite quickly and they don't have to be expensive.
18:36:28 And of course finally it's not about, you know, one of my favorite phrases, don't you, one size fits all. And it's also not a one and done. This is an iterative process.
18:36:37 It is about saying, okay, they're going to be commonalities things are going to emerge things develop people when they feel comfortable they stopped talking more.
18:36:46 So this is also in a way to make things approachable and open and positive way and really putting equality diversity inclusion into practice and it not just being a we have a policy isn't that lovely and we're waiting for someone with x condition to come
18:37:02 in through the door.
18:37:04 So I really hope you found this episode you saw as you can tell it something I feel really passionately about because it's practical, and it can be really straightforward, and it can really get people engaged.
18:37:15 So the resources are the universal design from the National Disability association of Ireland fantastic website they're more urban level universal design they've got a great piece about offices, employment autism, inclusive, inclusive it's in Universal
18:37:30 Design and project ago was a great article in Forbes, how do we design workplaces for increased diversity and diversity. So if you've enjoyed this episode please leave me a review on Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast from, and I'll see you