How Universal Design Helps You

Basics of Universal Design

A modern bathtub faucet with a black curved spout, mounted on a white wall with square tiles, and a gray towel hanging over the side of the bathtub.

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.

Examples of Universal Design

Shower area with metal showerhead, fixtures, and small wall niche in a tiled shower stall.
A modern bathroom with a glass shower enclosure featuring a geometric tile pattern and marble accents, a toilet, and a marble countertop with a small tray on top.

UD in Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1900 shower

UD in a 2019 shower

Accessibility

People of all ages can live comfortably with accessible homes

RL Mace’s Universal Design Checklist for Spaces and Products

Take a tour around your home and examine each space and amenity to see how it compares to this Universal Design checklist

  • Is the space or product flexible? Does it meet the needs of people in varying stages of life or ability?

  • Is it easy to understand and use regardless of the user’s experience or ability?

  • Is the design or space intuitive for users of all ages, backgrounds and abilities?

  • Can the space or product be harmful if misused? What steps can be taken to mitigate misuse?

    Design and use of spaces or products to support positive safe outcomes.

    Design of spaces and products that promote positive safe outcomes.

    Thoughtful design of spaces and products that prioritize well-being and safety.

  • Does it take minimal effort to use the product or move in the space? Does using the space require any unnecessary effort?

  • Is the space or product aesthetically pleasing? Does it compliment the space in function and design?

Examples of UD

White two-story house with black front door, black roof, and a porch with two chairs and plants, numbered 524, with a sidewalk leading to it numbered 7524, and a large tree overhead.

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 downspout pipe, with shadows cast on the stones.

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.

A bathroom with beige tiled walls and floor. There's a toilet with a bottle of toiletries on top, a toilet paper roll, a small trash bin, and a shower area with safety rails and a fold-down seat. Towels are stacked on a shelf above the toilet.

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.

Front door decorated with two floral wreaths on a brick house entrance with bushes on either side and a wooden bench to the left.

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.

Front entrance of a house with white brick walls, a light pink door with an arched glass window, black house number 7406, garden light fixture, a flower pot with red flowers, green shrubs, and large green leaves.
A modern espresso machine with a stainless steel and black plastic body, brewing an espresso shot into a small cup.

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

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.

Bathroom floor with white and gray mosaic tile pattern, toilet, shower enclosure with glass door, 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 curb with a textured red brick crosswalk section, some weeds growing around the bricks, grass behind the curb.

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.