INTEGRATION OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES INTO EARLY PHASES OF PRODUCT DESIGN - A CASE STUDY
Year: 2015
Editor: Christian Weber, Stephan Husung, Gaetano Cascini, Marco CantaMESsa, Dorian Marjanovic, Monica Bordegoni
Author: Kett, Susan Gretchen; Wartzack, Sandro
Series: ICED
Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany
Section: User-Centred Design, Design of Socio-Technical Systems
Page(s): 289-300
ISBN: 978-1-904670-72-8
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
Universal design (UD) is a strategy for designing societal and individual living environments. We outline how its generic guidelines need more concretization to be applicable to product development processes. Although the value of UD is widely known, its potentials are often still left unused. This paper s contribution is to bring UD theory into product development practice by extending the processes that are currently used. Therefore, an appropriate application scenario in mobility and daily needs is proposed. It is proven that this area affects a wide range of users with different requirements and thus has great value for UD. By using the example of a shopping aid, several approaches in creativity can be used in the early phases of product design. Two exemplary methodologies are presented to demonstrate UD integration. We outline that research success can be met in multiple ways. Among other things, we show the integration of UD into systematic product design and the controllability of its value in an ex-ante and accompanying way. Within this process, the holistic view of users will be extendable, e.g. taking sociological, psychological or cultural aspects into account.
Keywords: Design For Life, Inclusive Design, Design Methodology, Early Design Phases