How Universal Design Helps You

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 white bathtub with a black and white grab bar installed on the edge, with a gray towel hanging over the side. The background features white tiled walls with silver faucet handles.

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

Modern bathroom with a glass shower enclosure, marble wall tiles, a white toilet, and a marble countertop vanity.
A walk-in shower with pebble tile walls and a stainless steel showerhead mounted on the ceiling, featuring an integrated water heater with exposed pipes.

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 brick two-story house with black front door, front porch, and green lawn. House number 7524 on steps, house number 524 on wall, with two chairs and a small table on porch. Large tree above, some flowers and bushes in yard.

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 beside a brick wall, with a downspout and a concrete border on the left side, and a garden bed on the right side.

I see that 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.

Bathroom with beige tiled walls, a toilet, folded towels on a shelf, a shower area with a curtain, two grab bars, a small bench, a sink, a small trash can, and toiletries on the toilet tank.

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 entrance with a light pink door, house number 7406, a black wall-mounted lantern, a white flower pot with red flowers, green bushes, and a walkway.

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

Front entrance of a house with dark double doors decorated with flower wreaths, brick walls, two white columns, a wooden bench to the left, and green bushes in front.

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 Nespresso coffee machine with a metallic silver and black finish, pouring coffee into a clear container.

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 marble mosaic bathroom floor with small rectangular tiles in a herringbone pattern, a toilet, and a glass shower door.

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

Square red tactile paving for the visually impaired set into a concrete sidewalk, surrounded by grass and small weeds.

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.