Inclusive & Universal Design

In the dynamic environment of modern air travel, inclusive design has emerged as a cornerstone for enhancing the passenger experience. Moving beyond traditional notions of accessibility, which often focus solely on individuals with disabilities, inclusive design embraces the diverse needs of all travellers—be it parents with prams, individuals with heavy luggage, elderly passengers, or those with temporary injuries. By considering the full spectrum of human diversity, airport

Most accessibility consultants start with compliance. We start with people—which is why we don’t call ourselves accessibility consultants, but inclusive design consultants. Because there’s a difference between a space that just meets the standard—and one that actually works. Ticking the boxes is one thing. Designing for confidence, independence, and dignity is another. Inclusive design, for us, isn’t about whether a ramp is technically compliant. It’s about whether someone ca

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital ruling and its impact on inclusive wayfinding In 2021, the Federal Circuit Court ruled that the design and construction of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) indirectly discriminated against people with vision impairments. The plaintiff, Peter Ryan—who was legally blind—successfully argued that the hospital’s built environment imposed conditions he could not reasonably meet, in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992

When hospitals address accessibility, the focus often centres on physical features like ramps, lifts, or hearing loops. But there’s another barrier—less visible, more widespread—that quietly shapes how people experience care: literacy. And not just reading words. It’s about understanding instructions, navigating complex systems, and making sense of clinical information while under stress. Reading Doesn’t Guarantee Understanding An individual might read every word on a sign or

Inclusive design is about creating environments that work well for more people. It goes beyond accessibility checklists and starts with a basic principle: people are different. They move, think, see, hear, and process information in different ways. Good design respects that. When we talk about the user experience of a place, we’re talking about how it feels to be there. How easy it is to enter, move through, and find what you need. How much stress it causes, how confident it

Inclusive Design and Universal Design both aim to create environments that work for as many people as possible. But they approach the challenge from slightly different angles. Universal Design is about creating one solution that works for everyone , as far as possible, without the need for adaptation. The term originated in architecture and product design, and was later formalised in principles developed by Ron Mace and the Center for Universal Design in the 1990s. Think of