Resources: books & articles

Introduction to Universal Designis a one hour PowerPoint Presentation by CEUD and is suitable for use as an introductory lecture to students in any discipline.  

Universal Design 3rd Level Curriculum Materials is a full suite of materials developed in partnership with a range of higher education institutions in Ireland, suitable for teaching a Level 6 NFQ module on Universal Design. It includes Meet the Normals: Adventures in Universal Design is an animation about the Universal Design approach in practice.

 Transforming our World through Design, Diversity and Education – is the IOS Press conference proceedings from the Universal Design and Higher Education in Transformation Congress 2018.  Further conference papers are available on the TU Dublin Arrow repository. Both sets of conference proceedings contain many examples of Universal Design for Learning and Universal Design in practice and education. 

Conference proceedings from the Universal Design in Education Conference, which was held as part of the Year of Irish Design 2015, contain many examples of Universal Design being taught across the education continuum in Ireland and abroad.

List of resources Built Environment

1. Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach provides practical guidance on the universal design of buildings, places and facilities, so that they can be readily accessed and used by everyone, regardless of age, size, ability or disability.
2. Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland are a first step in the process of raising awareness and inspiring people to think differently about the benefits of Universally Designed homes and the potential opportunity to address some of the global challenges society faces by future-proofing our homes through embracing Universal Design thinking.
3. Universal Design Guidelines, Dementia Friendly Dwellings for People with Dementia, their Families and Carers supplements the Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland. It outlines dementia specific design considerations for homes, as part of the Universal Design approach.
4. Dementia Friendly Hospital Guidelines from a Universal Design Approachprovides detailed guidance in relation to dementia related design issues and the Universal Design of acute hospitals in Ireland.
5. Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care Settings set out the key Universal Design (UD) considerations and guidance for Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings in Ireland. These guidelines apply to both new-build and retrofit projects.
6. Meet the Normals: Adventures in Universal Design is an animation about the Universal Design approach in practice.
7. Why design should include everyone is a Ted Talk by Sinéad Burke. She tells us what it's like to navigate the world as a little person and asks: ‘Who are we not designing for?’
8. Universal Design in Architectural Education – Community Liaison on ‘Live Projects’ is a paper which describes a ‘live project’ undertaken by Year 2 architecture students at Cork Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE) in 2016.
9. Simulating Disability in Universal Design Teaching: A Critique - Abandoning Try-It-Yourself in Teaching Universal Design in Architecture is a paper which critiques the ‘try-it-yourself’ method of teaching universal design. It argues that the exercise, as opposed to its original intention, appears to increase disability stigma and ethical dilemmas.
10. I.S. EN 17161:2019 ‘Design for All - Accessibility following a Design for All approach in products, goods and services - Extending the range of users’ is a European process Standard about using a Universal Design (Design for All) approach at all levels in organisations to continuously improve and manage the accessibility and usability of the products and services they provide.
11. Universal Design Information Sheets on Body Size provides selected data and methods as guidance for designers and purchasers on how to consider and apply human body size and shape in their work to achieve more Universal Designs

List of resources Products and services

1.  The Customer Communications Toolkit for the Public Service - A Universal Design Approach, has guidance to inform the design and procurement of customer communications. In the Toolkit you will find sections on the design of Written, Spoken & Signed and Digital Communication. The Toolkit sections contain selected statements, examples, tips, checklists and links to learn more.
2. Universal Design Guidelines, Dementia Friendly Dwellings for People with Dementia, their Families and Carers supplements the Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland. It outlines dementia specific design considerations for homes, as part of the Universal Design approach.
3. Technical Guidelines for in Home Displays provides developers, designers, manufacturers and regulators with technical guidance on the Universal Design of In-Home Displays so that they can be easily accessed, understood and used by a wide range of people. These Technical Guidelines offer an example of applying relevant international standards, guidelines and best practice to one product type. There is an accompanying report on the three-stage development process, which comprised a Literature Review, Usability Testing and Stakeholder Consultations.
4. I.S. EN 17161:2019 ‘Design for All - Accessibility following a Design for All approach in products, goods and services - Extending the range of users’ is a European process Standard about using a Universal Design (Design for All) approach at all levels in organisations to continuously improve and manage the accessibility and usability of the products and services they provide.
5. ISO/IEC Guide 71 “Guide for addressing accessibility in standards” is a key resource when setting design requirements based on terminology about human abilities and characteristics from the World Health Organisation – International Classification of Functioning.
6. Design for the Public Good presents a series of case studies and tools to enhance the understanding of design for public sector innovation and facilitate the integration of its methods into mainstream practice.
7. Together for Design is a new report on Digital, Product and Strategic Design Skills. This study examines the future demand for design skills over the years 2020 to 2025. Also see an earlier report, Winning by Design.
8. Do Good Design is a book by Canadian designer David B. Berman on How Designers Can Change The World.
9. Design for the Real World, a 1972 book by Victor Papanek, translated into twenty-three languages, is one of the world's most widely read books on design.

 List of resources – ICT

1. Technical Guidelines for in Home Displays provides developers, designers, manufacturers and regulators with technical guidance on the Universal Design of In-Home Displays so that they can be easily accessed, understood and used by a wide range of people. These Technical Guidelines offer an example of applying relevant international standards, guidelines and best practice to one product type. There is an accompanying report on the three-stage development process, which comprised a Literature Review, Usability Testing and Stakeholder Consultations. 

2. EN 301 549:2018 v2.1.2 Accessibility Requirements for ICT Products and Services is a European harmonised technical standard that covers a wide range of accessibility requirements for a variety of ICT solutions. It may be used as one means to show that a website or mobile app conforms with the Web Accessibility Directive. 

3. Irish National IT Accessibility are guidelines for accessible products and services and covers ICTs such as Telecoms, Application software, Smart Cards, Public Access Terminals and Digital TV equipment and services. 

4. Guidance for Online Public Services aims to show how Universal Design processes and techniques can be progressively used to enable more people to use online public services with ease and satisfaction.  

5. Web accessibility techniques provides practical, advice and direction for anyone involved in web development, design and content. It provides guidance for Developers, Designers and Content providers and editors. 

6. The Customer Communications Toolkit for the Public Service - A Universal Design Approach, has guidance to inform the design of customer communications, including websites, electronic documents and social media messages. 

7. TheInclusive Design Toolkit is a suite of resources from Microsoft based on their design team’s experiences of aiming to produce universally designed products.