Inclusive Design eludes easy classification, because unlike many movements in architecture and design, it does not have a particular look. Rather, it refers to an approach to design that considers all possible users regardless of age or ability, according to the Design Council website. Instead of thinking in terms of "accommodations" for "nontypical" users, designers strive to include everyone from the start. For example, contrast a building with stairs and a wheelchair ramp to a building with a sloped entrance and no stairs. While designers had good intentions with the ramp, it forces some visitors to take a separate route--and it looks like an afterthought. By contrast, the sloped entrance allows anyone to enter without accommodation.
When designers eliminate barriers, they create a welcoming environment for everyone. Of course, some individuals will still need accommodations--for example, for companion animals or sign language interpreters--but inclusive principles invite greater participation. They foster independence and bring people together through shared experiences. Inclusive Design helps decrease waste, too, because it eliminates the need to make alternative versions of many products.
Inclusive Design draws from several key principles. For example, it requires a high "tolerance for error," according to the University of Washington. Think of the "undo" button in computer software. Minimal physical effort also matters. A door with a wheelchair button may accommodate some users, but a wide door that opens with motion sensors makes entrance easy for larger individuals and toddler-toting moms, too. Other principles include equality, easily accessible information, simplicity, flexibility and adequate size and space.
With an obesity epidemic spiraling out of control in 2010, as well as people enjoying greater life expectancy, old-fashioned design principles cannot keep up with all the accommodations people need. Companies recognize the commercial opportunity in responding to the needs of every consumer, according to the Design Council. Because Inclusive Design solves many problems in advance--instead of waiting for conflicts to boil over--it creates goodwill, too.
Designers do not have to sacrifice quality or beauty to make things more inclusive. In fact, the same things that make designs work so well for a minority group may well enhance the experience for everyone. For example, a woman who can walk may not need an automatic door, but sometimes, she might have a heavy load of groceries balanced on her hip. Finally, when families and friends visit a stadium or airport, they can all share a walk up the sloped entrance, instead of splitting apart while one takes the ramp.