Ontario College of Art & Design

Course Calendar

COURSE DESCRIPTION

GDES 3B56
Universal Design
0.50 Credit(s)
Studio
Universal Design is defined as: “the design of communications, products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design”.

Universal Design challenges designers to maximize the comprehensive usability of their creations through recognizing the diversity of possible end users and their various needs – whether related to age, size, physical mobility or visual/mental abilities. While good designers do, by default, focus on end-users and their needs, ‘universal design’ is particularly concerned with ‘inclusivity’ as its fundamental approach.

The course will provide students with an overview of the philosophy and evolution of the Universal Design movement, the ergonomic/functional issues associated with the diversity of human ability, as well as legislative, economic and demographic factors. Studio work will address how Universal Design principles can be applied to removing the numerous barriers which prevent individuals from gaining access to and fully participating in important activities such as jobs, access to information/communication, education, public transit, and the use of goods, services and facilities.
Course was last updated June 27, 2008 - 3:41 PM