Principles of Universal Design


Working Draft, Revised 9/7/95

PRINCIPLE ONE:  Simple and Intuitive Use  

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the 
user's experience, knowledge, language skills or current 
concentration level.  

Guidelines:  
  1a.  Minimize complexity.  
  1b.  Be consistent with user expectations and intuition. 
  1c.  Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language 
skills.  
  1d.  Make essential information clear.  
  1e.  Provide effective prompting.  
  1f.  Provide effective feedback.  


PRINCIPLE TWO:  Equitable Use  

The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of 
users.  

Guidelines:  
  2a.  Provide equivalent access and efficiency.  
  2b.  Avoid segregation of users.  


PRINCIPLE THREE:  Perceptible Information  

The design communicates necessary information effectively to 
the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's 
sensory abilities.  

Guidelines:  
  3a.  Provide multisensory (redundant) formats.  
  3b.  Provide adequate contrast to detect information and 
distinguish it from the surroundings.  
  3c.  Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or 
devices of assistance used by people with sensory 
limitations.  


PRINCIPLE FOUR:  Tolerance for Error  

The design minimizes the consequences of accidental or 
unintended actions.  

Guidelines:  
  4a.  Locate components to minimize errors and hazards.  
  4b.  Provide warning of error.  
  4c.  Make input reversible.  
  4d.  Provide fail-safes.  


PRINCIPLE FIVE:  Accommodation of Preferences and Abilities  

The design accommodates a wide range of individual 
preferences and abilities.  
Guidelines:  
  5a.  Eliminate 'handedness.'  
  5b.  Minimize the need for dexterity.  
  5c.  Facilitate user accuracy.  
  5d.  Provide adaptability to user pace.  
  5e.  Provide compatibility with a variety of personal 
techniques or assistive devices used by persons with manual 
limitations.  


PRINCIPLE SIX:  Low Physical Effort  

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with 
a minimum of fatigue.  
Guidelines:  
  6a.  Allow user to maintain of neutral body position.  
  6b.  Use reasonable operating forces and minimal 
repetitions.  
  6c.  Minimize sustained effort.  


PRINCIPLE SEVEN:  Space for Approach and Use  

Appropriate space is provided for approach, reach, and use 
regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.  
Guidelines:  
  7a.  Provide clear line of sight to all design components 
for any seated or standing user.  
  7b.  Make reach to all design components comfortable for 
any seated or standing user.  
  7c.  Provide adequate space for personal assistance and 
use of assistive devices used by people with mobility 
limitations.  


Compiled by advocates of universal design*  
* The team, listed in alphabetical order:
Bettye Rose Connell,  Mike Jones, Ron Mace, Jim Mueller, 
Abir Mullick, Elaine Ostroff, Jon Sanford, Ed Steinfeld, 
Molly Story, Gregg Vanderheiden.

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Universal Design

Universal design of telecommunications and information 
systems means designing products which can be 
effectively and efficiently used by people with a wide 
range of abilities or in a wide range of situations.  

For example, products which are flexible enough to be 
used by people who:

*  are blind, or whose eyes are otherwise occupied 
(e.g., driving a car);
*  have limited mobility or dexterity in their hands, 
or whose hands are occupied;
*  cannot speak, or are in an environment where speech 
isn't practical (e.g., library or noisy crowd);
*  are hard of hearing or deaf, or are in a noisy 
environment;
*  have a learning disability, or are only able to 
divert part of their attention to the task at hand;
*  are very young or very old.

An ideal universal design would be usable by everyone 
under any circumstances.  

A good universal design is a commercially practical, 
mass market design that is usable by and attractive to 
the maximum possible number and diversity of users