Synopses & Reviews
Access by Design George A. Covington Bruce Hannah Every day 48 million Americans with disabilities face man-made barriers that turn disabilities into handicaps. These barriers are as obvious as a flight of stairs or as subtle as 8-point type, all barriers that could be eliminated through Universal Design. Access By Design explores the why and how of Universal Design and presents an inspiring collection of products, spaces, and services for virtually every area of life: home, office, school, sports, communications, travel, entertainment, computers, and recreation. Itself an example of Universal Design, the book features design of products, spaces, and services that can be used by the widest possible range of individuals, from a child of eight to an adult of eighty. Universally designed products and services are actually used everyday by people who are both abled and disabled simply because they are the easiest and safest products available. At its best, Universal Design is seamless and invisible. We shouldnt look at a Universally Designed product and think, "This was designed for people with disabilities." Whether youre a designer, a facilities manager, a government agent, or a manufacturerif you want to create or purchase products that everyone can use, youll want to read this book. Written by the former Special Assistant for Disability to the Vice President of the United States and an award-winning industrial designer, Access By Design asks and answers some thought-provoking questions, while setting the standard for design of the future. After you read this book, youll never look at design the same way again.
Synopsis
This groundbreaking book provides the first and only comprehensive review of products that are designed for universal access by a full spectrum of the public. To illustrate the principle that responsible design makes universal access an imperative, this book is packed with hundreds of product profiles and photos, encouraging design standards that make places and things accessible and user-friendly to everyone.
Synopsis
"Our individual disability becomes a handicap only when we encounter a barrier." George Covington, Co-author "Why not consider designing for your lifetime, not just your primetime?" Jane Langmiur, Architect "Universal design is good design because it is design for the user and not design for the designer." Marc Harrison, IDSA, Professor, Rhode Island School of Design "The issue is not so much, what a great idea!, as how did we get it wrong for so long?" Geoff Hollington, Universal Designer, Geoff Hollington Associates "Its a way of thinking; a new ingredient to design education and professional practice that can become a catalyst for invigorating our design sensibilities." Bill Palmer, Architect, Hellmuth, Obata, & Kassabaum, Inc. "A designed object, product, building, or landscape earns the term Universal Design only if, in its final built state, it works properly in one form for everyone." Kevin Owens, Director of Product Development for Play/Designs & Playworld Systems
Synopsis
"Our individual disability becomes a handicap only when we encounter a barrier."
? George Covington, Co-author
"Why not consider designing for your lifetime, not just your primetime?"
? Jane Langmiur, Architect
"Universal design is good design because it is design for the user and not design for the designer."
? Marc Harrison, IDSA, Professor, Rhode Island School of Design
"The issue is not so much, ?what a great idea!,? as how did we get it wrong for so long?"
? Geoff Hollington, Universal Designer, Geoff Hollington Associates
"It?s a way of thinking; a new ingredient to design education and professional practice that can become a catalyst for invigorating our design sensibilities."
? Bill Palmer, Architect, Hellmuth, Obata, & Kassabaum, Inc.
"A designed object, product, building, or landscape earns the term Universal Design only if, in its final built state, it works properly in one form for everyone."
? Kevin Owens, Director of Product Development for Play/Designs & Playworld Systems
About the Author
About the Authors George A. Covington is the former Special Assistant for Disability to the Vice President of the United States. Mr. Covington is an attorney and former journalism professor whose career has spanned the fields of law, journalism, education, government, and disability civil rights. He is Co-Chair of the Universal Design Task Force of the Presidents Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Born legally blind with less than 10% normal vision, Mr. Covington first achieved national media attention for his work in using photography as a seeing tool. Bruce Hannah is an award-winning industrial designer with a concern for socially and environmentally responsible design. Mr. Hannah is a Professor of Art and Design at Pratt Institute. He received the Bronze Apple Award from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) for his role in developing the first conference on Universal Design. In addition, Mr. Hannah has won many awards for his designs, including the IDSA "Design of the Decade" award for the Knoll Desk System.
Table of Contents
Other Thoughts on Universal Design.
The Home and Living—Building Community Through Accessibility.
The Office and Work.
The School and Learning.
The Stadium and Sports.
Communications and Media.
The Road and Traveling.
The Tools and Computers.
The Park and Recreation.
Multi- and Print Media.
Conclusion.
Appendix.
Bibliography.
Videocassettes.
Other Media and Services.
Index.