universal design Archives - DeVol Design.Build.Remodel, LLC

Universal Design Principles

March 22, 2018 By Jeffdevol

There are 7 Universal Design Principles. These 7 Principles of Universal Design are a framework that was developed under Ronald Mace, founder of the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University. They were penned by a group of architects, designers, engineers and researchers. The goal: To have a set of criteria to allow a person to evaluate a product or environment for it’s usability.

Principle 1: Equitable Use

Principle 2: Flexibility in Use

Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use

Principle 4: Perceptible Information

Principle 5: Tolerance for Error

Principle 6: Low Physical Effort

Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use

Principle 1: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Guidelines:
1a. Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
1c. Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.
1d. Make the design appealing to all users.

Principle 2: Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Guidelines:
2a. Provide choice in methods of use.
2b. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
2c. Facilitate the user’s accuracy and precision.
2d. Provide adaptability to the user’s pace.

Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

Guidelines:
3a. Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
3b. Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
3c. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
3d. Arrange information consistent with its importance.
3e. Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.

Principle 4: Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

Guidelines:
4a. Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
4b. Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
4c. Maximize “legibility” of essential information.
4d. Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
4e. Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

Principle 5: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

Guidelines:
5a. Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
5c. Provide fail safe features.
5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

Principle 6: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

Guidelines:
6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
6b. Use reasonable operating forces.
6c. Minimize repetitive actions.
6d. Minimize sustained physical effort.

Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.

Guidelines:
7a. Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
7b. Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
7c. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
7d. Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

6 Kitchen Ideas Using Universal Design

August 9, 2016 By Jeffdevol

Searching for kitchen ideas when you’re planning that remodeling project can be time consuming. So, we’re going to give you our best advice at the very beginning of this article:

You should definitely incorporate Universal Design into your new kitchen. If you’re going to be remodeling your kitchen anyway, why wouldn’t you add Universal Design features? It will make it easier and more enjoyable for you and your family.

Kitchen ideas - universal design — Kitchen remodeling – Cincinnati, OH (click)

We’re committed to our neighbors in the Cincinnati and Loveland, OH and want to make sure you have the best information possible, so you can make good decisions about remodeling your home. So, bear with me as I explain.

Universal Design is essentially creating something that can be easily used by nearly anyone and without regard for age, abilities, or situation. And, this idea of Universal Design … it could be the thing that helps you create a kitchen you absolutely love.

Equally important is that Universal Design can help you accomplish many of the goals you have for your home and help you get the results you want.

If you’re someone planning for the future and creating a home for life, it can help you. If you’re looking to make your home wheelchair accessible, it will help you. And, if you’re just wanting to make your home easier and more enjoyable for your family to live in … you guessed it; it will help make that happen.

So, let’s get to the kitchen ideas, so you can see how much of a difference Universal Design can make.

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Kitchen ideas using Universal Design

Here is a list of kitchen ideas you can use when planning your new space.

Make appliances easy to reach and use.

Did you know they make dishwashers in drawers? These units can make it easier to load and unload the dishwasher by reducing back strain. There also are microwaves in drawers which you can install at a level anyone can reach them easily.

For baking, we could install a side opening oven (versus the bottom-hinged oven). These are especially useful when you combine it with a shelf mounted below the oven. It make using it so much easier and safer for everyone.

For those portable (but heavy) appliances like mixers or blenders, we can install an appliance lift that will bring the appliance up to the right height for a person to use. These lifts are on springs, so it makes using the appliances a lot easier.

And, when you’re searching for your new kitchen appliances, get appliances with controls that can be operated with a single hand. These are preferred over ones without knobs, because they do not involve a twisting motion to operate.

Counters that work for you

We’ve all had or been in kitchens where the counters are the same height. Well, having varying height counters can allow anyone to use them, regardless of whether they are sitting or standing. (Including the kids or grandkids!) Talk about a back-saver.

One neat feature we can create for you are kitchen islands without cabinets underneath, so you can sit while you work.

Also, your counters should be made of smooth surfaced material, so things are easier to move and clean.

Cabinets, drawers and storage

We’ve seen a lot of new kitchen ideas and products come out having to do with cabinets. From open shelves for storing items that are used frequently to installing upper cabinets lower to pull-down cabinets … there are a lot of options to make cabinets easier to use. Some are more expensive than others.

One fairly affordable item for your cabinets are magnetic latches, that with a touch of your hand you can “click” them open or closed.

As far as storage goes, our advice is to get as much of it as you can that is easy to reach from a sitting or standing position. Our design team can help you create this as part of the right kitchen design for your specific tastes and needs.

Now, the best thing about drawers is that you can put practically anything in them if you plan well. So, when you’re putting together the specs for your kitchen, add some deeper drawers, as well as at least a few drawers that fully extend.

And, don’t forget pull-out pantries (or other types of pull-out cabinets) … those are just big drawers, but vertical. If you put these at the right height in the right place, they can make cooking and cleaning so much easier.

Sinks that are easy

There are many different types of sinks and sink configurations that can make your life easier. Installing a shallow sink decreases the amount of reaching down and lifting you have to do when working. A hands-free or lever-handled faucet (side-mounted, preferably) makes turning the water on and off easier.

Additionally, leaving space beneath the sink so it can be used while sitting can reduce back strain.

Lots of open space

Choose a kitchen layout that allows for the most open space. The best situation is to have a five-foot radius of clear turning space. This recommended open space will help increase the comfort of being in the kitchen, as well as provide the right amount of space for anyone using it.

Lighting makes everything better

Nothing beats having the right amount of light. You want to ensure that, while you’re working; so plan for plenty of bright task lights in key areas, such as over work areas and in cabinets. Also, get as much natural light into your kitchen as you can.

Also, we can ensure that light switches can be easily reached from any entrance to the kitchen, and at a height that is comfortable, for anyone entering the kitchen.

We’ve used these kitchen ideas (and many other Universal Design features) with our customers. In doing so, we help our Cincinnati and Loveland, OH area customers create homes they love. We can do the same for you.

›› Contact us today about your new kitchen

Handicap Accessible Remodeling With Universal Design

May 30, 2016 By Jeffdevol

This handicap accessible remodeling project was completed for a man who is a paraplegic. He and his family were moving back to Cincinnati from Lexington, and needed an accessible home.

I met them at the house prior to them purchasing it to make sure it could be modified to meet his needs. The home is 15 years old, and in an upscale neighborhood. It had a standard master bathroom, which included a double vanity, shower, whirlpool tub, and separate toilet room.

Handicap accessible remodeling work

Using Universal Design principles, we redesigned key areas of the home to make it more accessible and usable for everyone in the home. This included:

Garage entry – We redesigned this entrance, and included a ramp which has an automatic door opener.

Laundry area – We moved the laundry room to the lower level and turned the existing space into a “power chair garage”. It is now a space that he can transfer from a power chair to a scooter. And, serves as an area where the chairs can be stored and charged.

Hallway – We re-positioned walls in the hallway to the master bedroom, and widened the door.

Master bath – We reconfigured the master bathroom per his needs, including a roll-under vanity with custom marble tops. We built a roll-in shower (per his instructions), so he could transfer into a shower chair just outside the shower, but still be in a waterproof area. The toilet was built up on a platform so it was at the same height as his chair which made it easier to transfer. He asked that we put fold down grab bars on each wall of the toilet so it formed a cage around him so he could get dressed easier.

All of work for this handicap accessible remodeling project was completed with high end products, and designed to be used by anyone. We think you’ll agree that it looks very nice, and in no way looks institutional.