Universal by Design 8/17/07

Universal by Design, D-492

Spring 2008
I. Course Overview:
A new course is being developed at the College of Design this fall to be introduced in the
spring semester of 2008. Called, Universal by Design (course # D-492), it will be an
advanced undergraduate and graduate level course on universal design, open to
students in the College of Design and from other colleges at NC State. This
multidisciplinary course will facilitate understanding of universal design concepts and
their application in architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design, industrial
design, and art and design for the benefit of all individuals. The course will teach the
principles and strategies for creating universal outcomes, the limitations of design for
accessibility, and the differences between accessible and universal design in all design
disciplines. The instructors will explore the international context and design history of
universal design.
As a result of the class, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the
beneficiary groups of universal design, the social context for universal design, and the
designer’s responsibility in this regard. Students will be aware of the impact of the
environment on human function and will understand the design implications when
meeting the needs of people with different abilities and the natural range of human
performance that can include variances in sight, hearing, movement, and cognitive
processes.
Lead instructors from the Center for Universal Design will teach the course in
collaboration with faculty from the departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture,
Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Art & Design, College of Design, NC State
University, as well as invited guests from the Universal Design community.

II. Background
Designers are increasingly called on to create safe and supportive environments and
products that allow users to be more independent. While federal laws [e.g. Americans
with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (US Department of Justice, 1994,
rev.), Fair Housing Amendments Act Accessibility Guidelines (U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 1991)] and various state and local accessibility
building codes must be met, they only require a minimum level of responsibility from the
designer to meet the needs of a changing population. Universal design can help to
address these inadequacies by involving designers in more creative work beyond mere
code compliance.

For more information: contact Richard Duncan at the Center for Universal Design, 919-
515-8557. Email: rc_duncan@ncsu.edu

For updates and more information: http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/

The Center for Universal Design :: College of Design :: North Carolina State University
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