Universal design is exactly that – universal. It affects all people and all aspects of the built environment. Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible and usable to all people of different ages and abilities over time, without the need for adaptation or specialised design.

Although often considered as a sort of optional extra or as something to be added at a later stage during renovations, universal design is most effective when included from the very first planning stages of a project. When universal design considerations are incorporated into project documentation, the resulting product can be used by a greater number of people and for a longer time without further modifications. This also makes the design more economically and environmentally sustainable.

Your Branded Worksection is already an excellent tool for designers. Universal design affects all aspects of the built environment and adds an additional layer of considerations for you and the designer. Your product’s unique performance characteristics and current product information are included in the worksection, which can be very useful for designers with specific requirements in mind, universal design or otherwise.

By identifying the wide range of applications for your products and how they address universal design considerations, you can open opportunities for designers to use your Branded Worksection to their full potential. Designers can clearly stipulate the exact requirements, not only for quality but also for specific elements of universal design. NATSPEC has released TECHnote DES 038 UNIVERSAL DESIGN: INTRODUCTION. Use your Branded Worksection to put the spotlight on your product and make it part of a high-quality end result.