CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN – EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? AN INTERROGATION OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN AS A CATALYST FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THROUGH THE LENS OF PRODUCT DESIGN THEORY, PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE
O'Connor, Ina; Tully, Robert
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
Technological University Dublin, Ireland
Page(s):
322 - 326
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
This paper interrogates Universal Design as a theoretical and philosophical framework to encourage diversity and inclusion within Product Design. Moving beyond its origins as a response to accessibility, Universal Design is contextualised here as a critical design positionality that challenges assumptions about users and ability. Through an examination of Product Design theory, this study explores how it disrupts the notion of an ‘ideal’ or ‘average’ user by advocating for a more diverse understanding of the human experience. Drawing on phenomenology, design ethics, and critical disability studies, the paper situates Universal Design as a vehicle for reimagining design not merely as a means of producing artefacts, but as a practice of social engagement and ethical responsibility. By exploring diversity as an intrinsic and intuitive design value, it aligns with a contemporary, participatory and socially sustainable design approach. The paper further critiques the limitations of purely functionalist interpretations of Universal Design, proposing instead a philosophical synthesis that embraces ambiguity, cultural diversity, resilience and the fluidity of human needs. Ultimately, the authors argue that Universal Design extends Product Design beyond form or function and reframes design as a moral and epistemological act that transforms both the discourse and the practice of Product Design toward diversity, equity, empathy, and shared human dignity. The paper is further supported by student reflections from the Design Theory and Universal Design discourse on the BSc in Product Design.
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