Unlock the Secrets to Inclusive Design: Master the 7 Principles of Universal Design

Imagine you’re trying to get on a bus, train, or subway—something you need to do for work or school. You’re in a rush and need to get there quickly. But when you step onto the vehicle, you realize the announcement system isn’t working.

If you’ve ever been late or missed an appointment, you probably know how frustrating it can be to get lost or take the wrong route. However, if you didn’t have other options, like asking for directions or getting help from a friend, it might feel like your trip would never end.

You see, this is where the principles of universal design come in. The goal of universal design is to ensure that people of all abilities can use buildings, products, and services equally, regardless of form or method. Universal design guarantees access to everyone in all aspects of a product or service.

Regardless of your role—UX designer, graphic designer, digital marketer, or CFO—you’ll find these principles helpful in designing something that works for everyone.

Now let’s begin!

Principle 1: Equitable Use

The principle of equitable use means that your design should work for everyone, including people with disabilities, which is extremely important in design. This includes ensuring that all users can access the same information or do the same tasks, no matter how skilled they are.

For example, when designing a sidewalk, it’s essential to include curb cuts, which make it easy for people in wheelchairs and other people using wheeled devices like baby strollers and shopping carts to move from the sidewalk to the street.

Without curb cuts, people in wheelchairs would have to overcome a dangerous and challenging obstacle, which can be very frustrating, take a long time, or even be impossible for some people. Curb cuts can also assist people who are blind or visually impaired by alerting them to the presence of a street through touch.

Other Examples Include:

• A website or application that allows users to adjust the font size and color contrast to meet their individual needs.
• A website or application that includes alternative text descriptions for images to support users with visual impairments.
• A website or application that allows users to adjust the time limit for answering questions or completing tasks.
• A website or application that includes a feature for users to adjust the size of the cursor or pointer to make it easier to see.
• A website or application that allows users to adjust the time limit for inactivity before the session is automatically logged out.

Principle 2: Flexibility in Use

The principle of flexibility in use means that designs are adaptable to different uses, environments, and people. That means that your design should be able to accommodate a variety of tasks as well as other types of users.

The flexibility in use principle requires that your product adapts to different users’ needs while retaining its core functionality. This can be done by ensuring users control how they interact with the product to meet their specific needs.

Other Examples Include:

• Add text-resizing capabilities for users with visual impairments or anyone who prefers larger text or needs magnification.
• Creating a responsive design that automatically adapts to different screen sizes and resolutions allows users to enjoy your website no matter their device.
• Allow users to adjust the color contrast to accommodate users with visual impairments or color blindness.
• Make your website easy to navigate using a keyboard, so people with mobility impairments and keyboard-only users can more easily navigate.
• You can add features to your website so it can be translated into different languages to accommodate users with different language needs.

Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use

The third principle of universal design is simple and intuitive use. Things should have an easy-to-understand interface that lets you do what you want with a few clicks or taps.

It should also be designed so that users can learn how to use it quickly by experimenting with different options or following step-by-step instructions provided by the product.

One of the main goals of any user interface is to cut down on mistakes by making tasks take as few steps as possible. For instance, if you want your users to fill out an online form or application, it should be quick and easy for them—so that they don’t get frustrated and abandon the process altogether.

User interfaces should be consistent with each other and with the rest of the software. That way, users can move back and forth between programs without having to relearn how to use them or change their habits.

So what does that mean? It means every feature you add should be functional, and only give your users the information they need to reach their goals. That way, they’ll get what they want with less effort, making them happier.

Other Examples Include:

• Online shopping sites like Amazon or Walmart have straightforward and intuitive navigation, making it easy to find products and complete purchases.
• Social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram have simple and easy-to-use interfaces, allowing users to quickly scroll through their feeds, post updates, and interact with others.
• Online banking platforms have user-friendly interfaces and clear instructions, making it easy for customers to check their account balances, complete transactions, and access other banking services.
• Online meal delivery services, such as Grubhub or Uber Eats, have simple and intuitive interfaces, allowing users to browse menus quickly, place orders, and track the status of their deliveries.
• Online tax preparation software like TurboTax or H&R Block has user-friendly interfaces and clear instructions, making it easy for users to file their taxes and get their maximum refund.

Principle 4: Perceptible Information

According to the fourth principle of universal design, “Perceptible Information,” you should make sure that your users can see and understand the information presented on a screen using any of their senses.

Users should be able to tell what’s going on with the interface. It doesn’t matter if they have visual, auditory, or tactile impairments — everyone should be able to easily and quickly interact with the provided information.

Other Examples Include:

• Add closed captions to videos and audio content to allow users who are deaf or hard of hearing to understand the audio.
• Add alt text for images so users who rely on screen readers can understand what the image is about.
• Add vibration or haptic feedback to buttons to provide feedback to users who are visually impaired or have motor impairments.
• Add audio cues, such as sound effects, to indicate when buttons are clicked to provide feedback to visually impaired users.
• Provide clear and visible labels for buttons and links to help users understand what will happen when they click on them.

Principle 5: Tolerance for Error

The principle of tolerance for error states that user interfaces and products should be tolerant of user error. Humans make mistakes, and computers should be able to handle that. If you accidentally delete some data, it shouldn’t be gone forever.

The system should be forgiving of your mistakes, and you shouldn’t have to pay for them later on. If possible, errors should be easy to fix and not affect how the system works in the future.

Another example could be if a user enters invalid data into a field, the user should receive an alert message explaining why that entry is invalid and how to correct it. It’s okay to make mistakes—just plan accordingly.

Other Examples Include:

• Provide clear and specific error messages when a user enters invalid data, explaining what went wrong and how to fix it.
• Allow users to undo actions like deleting a file to prevent irreversible mistakes.
• Provide auto-save or backup features to prevent data loss in case of system crashes or errors.
• Use confirmation dialogs before performing irreversible actions, such as deleting a file or submitting a form, to prevent accidental mistakes.
• Design forms to detect and automatically correct common errors, such as typos or invalid data formats.
• Allow users to save their progress and return to it later to reduce the chances of losing work due to errors.
• Create a clear and straightforward process for recovering lost or forgotten passwords to reduce the chances of user error.

Principle 6: Low Physical Effort

The principle of low physical effort is especially important for the elderly or people with disabilities who may find it difficult to use products that require them to constantly adjust their posture and hold them in place, stretch their arms out, or reach over something.

As designers, we should make it easy for people to use our creations. For instance, if you’re designing a website or app and everyone can’t click all of the buttons easily—even those with limited hand mobility—then you should re-think your design choices.

The fewer clicks of the mouse it takes for users to complete tasks, the better. When designing a website or app, consider how many clicks of the mouse it will take for users to complete tasks.

Other Examples Include:

• Design products with adjustable heights to accommodate users of different heights and abilities.
• Provide handles and grips to make it easier for users with limited hand mobility to hold and use products.
• When creating self-checkout machines, ensure that they have easy-to-use touch screens to make it easier for users to complete their transactions.
• When designing public transportation systems, use clear and easy-to-understand announcements to make navigating more accessible for users.
• When designing websites and apps, try to use minimal scrolling and clicking to make it easier for users to access information.
• A touchscreen keyboard should have significant and easy-to-press keys with enough space between them.
• If you’re working on a site where users will need to navigate through menus, it’s best if these menus have clearly labeled tabs or buttons so that users can save time figuring out what each section does before selecting it.

Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use

The seventh principle of universal design is “Size and Space for Approach and Use”. Size and space for approach, and use is about making sure that the design accommodates users with different sizing needs and abilities.

That means that it’s important to provide enough space so that users can reach and use the product. It also means making sure the product is the right size to be operated on by people with different needs.

If you’re designing a website or app, make sure all buttons and controls are large enough to be easily clicked. Also remember to leave room for people to navigate quickly through the interface. For more information, check out my article Size Matters: Helpful Accessibility Tips to Improve Usability Using Large Elements and Controls.

In physical products, designers should ensure enough space for users to approach and use the product comfortably and that the product is the right size for the intended users.

Other examples include:

• Automatic sliding doors on a building entrance, allowing wheelchair users to easily enter and exit the building without needing assistance.
• Wide aisles in grocery stores, providing enough space for individuals using mobility devices to navigate through the store without feeling cramped or crowded.
• Adjustable height counters and tables in restaurants, allowing for easy use for both standing and seated customers.
• Elevated buttons on ATM machines, making them accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or those with limited reach.
• Large print and high contrast text on signs and labels in public spaces, making them readable for individuals with visual impairments.

Conclusion

Creating designs that cater to the needs of everyone, including those with diverse abilities, is not only the right thing to do, but it also leads to a better overall user experience, higher engagement, and higher customer satisfaction.

You can make a difference by designing to people’s needs, not just your preferences. Applying the seven universal design principles allows you to create a website that is easy for everyone to use, understand, and navigate.

So the next time you start designing, remember to use these principles to ensure your website is accessible to everyone. You’ll be glad you did! But don’t just take our word for it.

Try it out for yourself and see the difference it makes! And if you found this article valuable, please share your thoughts, feedback, and experiences in the comments below.

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