How Universal Design Helps You

What is Universal Design (UD)?

This Bathtub Grab Bar Handle is obvious where you grab, allows for easy movement in and out of tub for all ages. It can be moved to any location on tub. All good UD.

A bathtub with a white grab bar attached to the edge and a black hospital-style u-shaped safety rail.

Check out this Universal Design (UD) from the 1900’s

Bathroom with a glass shower enclosure, marble tiled walls, and a marble floor. A toilet is visible to the right, and there are towel bars on the left wall.
Shower with mosaic tile walls, a stainless steel vintage-style shower head and fixtures, a wall niche, and a floor drain.

On Right is 2019 UD Shower

On Left is Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1900 UD shower

RL Mace’s Universal Design Checklist for Spaces and Products

  1. Is the space /product flexible?

  2. Is the space /product simple to use?

  3. Is the space/product intuitive to use?

  4. Can everyone use the space /product? Safety is the issue here.

  5. Does it take minimal effort to use the product/work in space?

I added this additional criteria:

6. Is it aesthetically pleasing or interesting?

White two-story house with black front door, porch with seating, and well-maintained lawn. House number 524, sidewalk with 7524 written on steps.

Steps and more steps. You will learn how you can create options for safer steps while using UD in the Blog.

Close-up of a stone pathway next to a brick wall with a downward-sloping gutter pipe attached.

Someone tried to make a ramp here! Does it make the grade? No, we can do better. More on UD and Ramps in the Blog.

Accessible bathroom with a toilet, grab bars, a shower seat, folded towels, toiletries, and a shower curtain.

All the components of UD are there but the space is not. You will learn why space always matters for good UD on the Blog.

White brick house with pink front door, house number 7406, black wall-mounted lantern light, potted plant with flowers, and neatly trimmed greenery in front.

The pink door makes finding the entrance easy. The zigzag path leads to the door. There are no steps,this is zero entry in UD. Learn more about zero entry on the Blog.

Front entrance of a house with a dark double door decorated with floral wreaths, flanked by two white columns, with a small porch and surrounding greenery.

The entrance has many UD features: Easy to find Front door , a bench, lighting, a large covered porch, or shelter. More on UD and Shelter on the Blog.

A sleek, modern coffee machine with a metallic finish, placed on a white marble countertop, dispensing coffee into a glass cup.

This product dispenses hand soap by putting your hand under the sensor. Easy to use, simple, looks nice, you can see when running low on soap. The Blog demonstrates how all benefit when using products that meet UD criteria.

Close-up of a bathroom floor with white and gray mosaic tiles, next to a white toilet and a dark wooden cabinet.

A smooth transition from the wood floor to the small tile in the bathroom is great UD. See why on the Blog titled floors.

A sidewalk with a tire-traction tactile paving patch in the middle, surrounded by grass and concrete slabs.

Curb cuts are good UD for everyone. Strollers, bikers, scooters, new walkers, old walkers, wheelchair riders , visually impaired….to learn more go on the Blog.