The relation of design tools to Universal Design Theory

Are researchers in Universal Design (UD) using UD theory? There is a link between theory and the appropriate use and selection of tools in design research. On that basis, 256 conference papers from the Cambridge Workshop of Universal Access and Assistive Technology (2002 to 2020) are reviewed for in...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Herriott, Richard
Format: article
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/398872
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/398872
https://dx.doi.org/10.17411/jacces.v13i2.461
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Design
Universal design
Design theory
Design tools
Design research
Inclusive design
Disseny
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Arquitectura::Disseny
Description
Summary:Are researchers in Universal Design (UD) using UD theory? There is a link between theory and the appropriate use and selection of tools in design research. On that basis, 256 conference papers from the Cambridge Workshop of Universal Access and Assistive Technology (2002 to 2020) are reviewed for instances of tool use and links to UD and general design theoretical content. From this, it is shown that the instance of explicit tool use can be found in a minority of articles. Those that do have articulated links between the tool of inquiry and theory are classed into four groups, a minority of which are based on UD theory. A recommendation is made for a more explicit explanation of the basis of tool use in research design in order to improve the transparency and comprehensibility of the research design.