Universal Design Research

The project begins with an inquiry into UD theory, published as Herriott, R. (2024) The Incidence of Theoretical Content in Universal Design Research. The International Journal of Designed Objects, 18(2), 139. 

The next step was to look at the nature of tool use in UD theory, published as Herriott, R. (2023). The relation of design tools to Universal Design Theory. Journal of Accessibility and Design for All, 13(2), 216-249. The next step is to explore ways to strengthen the justification of the selection of design reserch tools for accumulating user data involving design teaching experiments with design students. 

This led to two papers on the use of card game design for this end. One published as Herriott, R. (2024). The Use of Card-Game Design to Teach Universal Design Theory. HTI, 166. And a follow up study went into greater depth, to be published (with Asa River Jackson as co-author) as How playing or making card games can support Universal Design teaching for the conference DRS Learn X Design 2025 Intertwinia in Design Education” at Aveiro, Portugal.

Associate Prof. Line Gad Christen is carrying out related work into methods for supporting children with physical handicaps in their physical training. PhD scholar Zanitha Månegaard Hamilton is undertaking work on play, neurodiversity and pluriversal design in relation to Universal Design approaches.