Meeting the needs of older and disabled consumers
Guidelines for product design and testing
(view report contents)
CONTACTS
1. AgeNet
2. ANEC
3. COST 219bis
4. Centre for Applied Gerontology
5. Consumer Safety Institute
6. Design for Ageing Network
7. Design Council
8. Design for Ability
9. EBU
10. EIDD
11. Helen Hamlyn Research Centre
12. i-design
13. INC
14. INCLUDE
15. International Society for Gerontology
16. KITTZ
17. Konsumentverket
18. Loughborough University
19. OLDER ADULTDATA , ADULTDATA and CHILDATA
20. P5
21. Project Rainbow
22. RFA
23. RSA
24. RICA
25. UKIID
During the course of this project the following organisations and projects
have been identified as working in the field of design for all in Europe.
There are undoubtedly others, and RICA would be pleased to receive information
from them to add to the following.
1. AgeNet
Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Charterhouse Square, London
EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7882 6204
Fax: +44 20 7882 6262
Email: k.s.macredie@mds.qmw.ac.uk
D.H.Metz@mds.qmw.ac.uk
Web site: www.agenet.ac.uk
AgeNet was a project aimed at stimulating multidisciplinary and multisector
research partnerships which ended in 2000. It organised workshops which
brought together researchers, users of research findings and policy makers.
One workshop, held in London in 1998, was on Design for Old Age Design
for All. Abstracts of the content are available from AgeNet.
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2. ANEC
European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation
in Standardization
36 Avenue de Tervueren, B - 1040 Brussels, Belgium.
Tel: +32 2 743 24 70
Fax: +32 2 706 54 30
Email: anec@anec.org
Web site: www.anec.org
ANEC was established in 1995 to involve consumers in the process of technical
standardisation. With more than 150 consumer experts and many consumer
representatives, ANEC represents private users from all European Union
and European Free Trade Area countries. It strives to represent all consumers
on equal terms, without exception. It has developed a Policy Statement
on Barrier-free Standardisation, and established a Special Needs Working
Group, comprising representatives of organisations of and for older and
disabled people and standardisation experts from the European consumer
organisations.
3. COST 219bis
Telecommunications: Access for Disabled and Elderly People
Chairman: Prof Jan Ekberg, STAKES (National Research and Development Centre
for Welfare and Health), PB 220, SF-00531 Helsinki, Finland.
Tel: +358 9 3967 2091
Fax: +358 9 3967 2054
Email: jan.ekberg@stakes.fi
Web site: www.stakes.fi/cost219
This was a project funded by the European Commission. Its main objective
was to increase the availability of telecommunication services and equipment
so that they are accessible to older and disabled people. The intention
is to ensure that products and services are designed to take into account
special needs. If this is not possible, they should be made to be adaptable.
If neither is possible, appropriate supplementary equipment and services
should be made available. The project also promoted research into telecommunications
and teleinformatics with the aim of proposing solutions to the problems
older and disabled people have in gaining access to these areas. COST
219 produced a number of publications and organises seminars and other
events.
4. Centre for Applied Gerontology
University of Birmingham, Hayward Building, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn
Road, Birmingham B29 6JP, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 121 627 8640
Fax: +44 121 627 8304
Email: Thousand-Elders@bham.ac.uk
Web site: www.gerontology.bham.ac.uk
The centre has a nationwide panel of around 5,000 people over 50 years
old, called the Thousand Elders. Panel members are volunteers who live
independently in the community. They take part in market research surveys
and product evaluation. A sample of 60 to 80 people assess a product and
if it is found to be generally suitable for use by older people, it is
awarded the 'Owl mark'. Products with the Owl mark include a bathroom
suite, a window with an easy opening winding handle, and a gas cooker
and a gas fire, both with easy to operate controls. They are currently
looking into areas such as food packaging and nutrition and accessible
web sites. The Centre's motto is 'design for the young and you exclude
the old; design for the old and you include the young'.
5. Consumer Safety Institute
PO Box 75169, 1070 AD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 20-511 45 67 (Mon-Fri 09.00-13.00)
Fax: +31 20 669 28 31
Email: eisenwijzer@consafe.nl
Product safety guide for designers
Web site: www.eisenwijzer.nl/csi/productsafetyguide/main.nsf/index.html?ReadForm
CSI is a national centre which develops initiatives for improving safety
at home and in the recreational environment. Its aim is to improve safety
in the Netherlands from the perspective of health policy in general -
taking the stance that safety must be integrated into the wider context
of safety, security and health. The Institute has produced a CD-ROM, Product
Safety Guide for the Elderly, an interactive tool primarily for designers
intended to encourage the incorporation of safety aspects for older people
into the process of designing consumer products. It contains comprehensive
data on product related hazards and age related functional changes, and
their interaction. It includes working sheets and checklists for the designer.
Price DFL 50. Additional information is available on the website www.eisenwijzer.nl/en.
6. The Design for Ageing Network
(DAN) - Now The Include Programme
Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore,
London SW7 2EU, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7590 4242
Fax: +44 20 7590 4244
Email: hhrc@rca.ac.uk
Web site: www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/programmes/designage/DAN/index.html
The Helen Hamlyn Research Centre works to advance a socially inclusive
approach to design through practical research and projects with industry.
The DAN network was established in 1994 as part of its DesignAge programme
with funding from the European Commission and since early 2004 has been
superceded by the Include Programme.
The Include Programme is an international network and a series of biennial
conferences which aim to develop the theory and practice of inclusive
design and to support people working to make inclusive design a reality.
An on-line membership database enabling leading researchers, designers
and business managers to keep in touch.
Web site: www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/programmes/include/index.html
7. Design Council
34 Bow Street, London WC2E 7DL, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 207 420 5200
Fax: +44 207 420 5300
Email: info@design-council.org.uk
Web site: www.design-council.org.uk
The Council's Millennium Product Initiative was to identify, encourage
and promote the most forward-thinking innovative products and services
created by the UK for the 21st century. One of the key assessment criteria
for the panel of judges was that the product or service 'shows clear user
benefits'. The last group of Millennium Products were announced in December
1999 bringing the total identified to 1012. How the companies created
the products was explored, and information passed to colleges and universities
and smaller medium sized businesses. There is a searchable database of
the Millennium Products on the web site.
8. Design for Ability
Design for Ability Research, Central Saint Martins College of Art and
Design, Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AP, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7514 7019
Fax: +44 20 7514 7199
Email: m.johnston@csm.linst.ac.uk
A research centre set up in 1994 within Central Saint Martins College
and working in partnership with disability professionals and disabled
people. The research projects 'aim to mainstream the approach to the manufacturing
and marketing of equipment providing disabled people with real consumer
choice' and to 'remove the dividing line wherever possible between products
for able-bodied and disabled people'. The research has included a survey
of 600 adults with physical impairments on their lifestyle, aspirations
and attitudes towards their disability. One outcome is a CD ROM, Design
Aid, for product designers, manufacturers, health professionals and disability
workers. It gives an overview of existing aids and uses interactive technology
to give an insight into the lives and needs of disabled people. Price
£116.33, £92.83 to academics (both include VAT).
9. European Blind Union (EBU)
58 avenue Bosquet, 75007 Paris, France.
Tel: +33 1 47 05 38 20
Fax: +33 1 47 05 38 21
Email: ebu_uea@compuserve.com
Web site: www.euroblind.org
EBU is a non-governmental and non-profit making organisation that represents
the interests of blind and partially sighted people in Europe. It provides
a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of blindness.
One of its goals is to promote the interests of blind people to achieve
their equal rights as citizens and full participation in society. EBU
plays an active role in promoting design for all in standardisation. It
has expressed its willingness to advise on the product needs of its membership.
10. EIDD
European Institute for Design and Disability
Pete Kercher, President
Via Sumpiazzo, 9
23865 Oliveto Lario (Lc)
Italy
Tel. +39-031-968025
Fax +39-031-969855
Email: pkercher@libero.it
Web site: www.design-for-all.org
A network of autonomous national groups in the countries
of the European Union. Mission statement: to enhance the quality of life
of all citizens by promoting the ideal of design for all. Objectives:
to promote interest in design as a response to human diversity, to undertake
study of and provide information on the relationship between design and
disability and to initiate design solutions to meet identified needs.
EIDD's membership
includes architects, designers, rehabilitation scientists, engineers and
people with disabilities.
11. Helen Hamlyn Research Centre
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7590 4242
Fax: +44 20 7590 4244
Email: hhrc@rca.ac.uk
Web site: www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk
This is a user focused centre for design research with an emphasis on
using design to improve quality of life for people of all ages and abilities.
The Centre collaborates with RCA staff and students, via a 'design for
our future selves' competition for graduating students and a Research
Associates programme. It also works with a range of external bodies, and
is involved in seminars, research consortia and publications.
12. i-design
Contact: Cherie Lebbon, Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, Royal College of
Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7590 4242
Fax: +44 20 7590 4244
Email: c.lebbon@rca.ac.uk
Web site:
www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/programmes/i-design.html
i-design provides design guidance on inclusive design methodologies for the design community and industry. The 3 year project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), was a collaboration between the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, the Engineering Design Centre at Cambridge University, the Design for Ability unit at Central St Martins, and the Design Council. It ran from 2000 to 2003, and led to the development of a new British Standard, on-line resources for education, business and design, a Design Council Policy Paper, a ground breaking book, and over 60 research publications.
BS 7000-6 Guide to managing inclusive design
Due for publication in 2004, this British Standard sets out the business
case for inclusive design, and supports it with practical guidance on
how to build an inclusive approach into design practice, business goals
and management strategy. By following the guidance, companies will enjoy
increased market share through mainstream products and services that meet
the needs of previously excluded customers, and also protect themselves
against the legal consequences of failure to comply with the Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and related legislation, both in the UK
and international markets.
13. INC
Institut National de la Consommation, 80 Rue Lecourbe, 75732 Paris, Cedex
15, France.
Tel: +33 1 45 662020
Fax: +33 1 45 662180
Email: webmaster@inc60.fr
Web site: www.inc60.fr
A French consumer organisation which publishes a monthly magazine 60 millions
de consommateurs, including comparative test reports on products. Working
with the CNRH (Comité national français de liaison pour la readaptation
des handicapes), it has extended a number of its ease of use tests to
include assessments by people with disabilities. Results have been published
in reports on VCR/television sets, washing machines, tumble driers, microwave
ovens, combined telephone/fax/answering machines, mobile telephones and
earphones.
14. INCLUDE
Prime Coordinator: Prof Jan Ekberg, STAKES (National Research and Development
Centre for Welfare and Health), PB 220, SF-00531 Helsinki, Finland.
Tel: +358 9 3967 2091
Fax: +358 9 3967 2054
Email: jan.ekberg@stakes.fi
Web site: www.stakes.fi/include
This is a project funded by the European Commission to advise projects
on how to incorporate the needs of disabled and elderly users into the
design of telematics systems. INCLUDE provides direct advice to projects,
produces publications on good design and disseminates information on standardisation
and legislation in this area. It runs a Help Desk Consultancy service
with a pool of experts for the telematics community: www.stakes.fi/include/inca141.html.
Simple queries can be answered by phone or e-mail. If they are more complex
up to 2 days of free consultancy can be given per project.
15. International Society for Gerontology
Wiet Koren, Treasurer, Kievitweide 31, 3993 DA Houten, Netherlands
Tel. +40 247 5040
Fax. + 40 243 8595
Email: l.g.h.koren@tue.nl
Jan Ekberg, Secretary General
Email: jan.ekberg@stakes.fi
Web site: www.gerontechnology.info
Gerontechnology is technology directed towards ageing adults. It addresses
changes in human needs, interests and capacities, including the adaptation
and adaptability of products to changing human needs. The Society is a
network of researchers, designers, engineers, producers, providers and
end users in the field. It grew out of the European Network on Ageing
and Technology (COST A5). The Society publishes material and organises
workshops and conferences.
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16. KITTZ
Institute for Quality and Applied Home Care Innovation, Postbus 4050,
9701 EB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 50 368 62 57
Fax: +31 50 313 84 04
Email: kittz@kittz.nl
Web site: www.kittz.nl
KIITZ is an independent institute which develops opportunities for living
at home independently and home care. These include work on products and
services to enable people to look after themselves as long as possible.
KITTZ ran a Gerontechnology Project from 1995 to 1998 which was commissioned
by the Dutch ministries of Economic Affairs, of Health, Welfare and Sport
and of Housing, Urban Planning and the Environment. With the direct involvement
of elderly people in the development process, manufacturers and service
providers developed products and services specifically to the growing
market of older people, but which also appealed to others. A project aim
was 'to blur the dividing lines between aid devices and comfort articles
that appeal to everyone'. The output included over 40 demonstration projects,
from redesigned blister packaging to a comfortable caravan to electric
tools for everyone. A video, a workbook for companies and a workbook for
older people were produced.
17. Konsumentverket
Swedish Consumer Agency, S-11887, Stockholm, Sweden.
Tel: +46 8 429 0500
Fax: +46 8 429 0555
Email: konsumentverket@kov.se
Web site: www.kov.se
Konsumentverket is a consumer organisation which tests products and services
and publishes the results in its magazine. One of its goals is the protection
of economically or socially vulnerable consumers and those with special
needs and requirements. Konsumentverket is one of the very few consumer
organisations that takes into account the needs of older and disabled
people in its regular testing of mainstream domestic products. It has
developed objective measurements to assess the usability of a range of
appliances including washing machines, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners.
18. Loughborough University
Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University, Leicestershire,
LE11 3TU, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1509 222 652
Fax: + 44 1509 223 999
Email: g.e.torrens@lboro.ac.uk
Web site: www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/cd
The Department of Design and Technology is involved in wide range of projects
looking at design for all. This includes post-graduate and undergraduate
research projects involving the local community. They are also trying
to build up a profile of elderly people. The Hand Performance Research
Group aims to expand current understanding of how we interact with objects
through our hands, and to disseminate the information to professionals
within industry relating to hand performance. The Group is developing
a range of measurement devices, such as a grip dynomometer and an extremities
friction meter, to assess hand performance.
19. OLDER ADULTDATA , ADULTDATA and CHILDATA
Product Safety Testing Group, Institute for Occupational Ergonomics, School
of Mechanical Materials, Manufacturing, Engineering & Management,
University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United
Kingdom.
Tel: +44 115 951 4041
Fax: +44 115 951 6771
Email: beverley.norris@nottingham.ac.uk
Web site: www.virart.nott.ac.uk/pstg/
These are comprehensive collections of anthropometric, strength and performance
data in a range of countries and populations, free and aimed at use by
designers. OLDER ADULTDATA is on adults over 50 years of age, ADULTDATA
is on adults from 18 to 64 years, and CHILDATA gives data on children
from birth to 18 years.
20. P5
Quality & Product Management Consultants
PO Box 3688, 1001 AL Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 20 689 51 90
Fax: +31 20 689 85 96
Email: info@p5-consultants.com
Web site: www.p5-adviseurs.nl
P5 carry out usability and quality studies. They focus on people's needs
and requirements of products and the translation of these into concrete
product specifications. Their information is used by product development
teams, product purchasers and testers, and management for product development
and quality policy. They have covered a wide range of products including
coffee machines, remote controls and a variety of aids for older and disabled
people.
21. Project Rainbow
Research Group for Inclusive Environments, School of Construction Management
& Engineering, University of Reading, Whitenights, PO Box 219, Reading
RG6 6AW, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 118 931 6734
Fax: +44 118 931 6735
Email: v.a.keane@reading.ac.uk
Web site: www.rdg.ac.uk/AcaDepts/kc/nhe
A two year project from 1995-1997 which researched in detail colour contrast
in buildings - including how different adjacent colours have to be for
a difference to be discernible between them by both fully sighted people
and most visually impaired people. The work was led by Reading University
with input from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Guide
Dogs for the Blind Association, and ICI Paints, and involved user groups
of fully sighted and visually impaired people. Reports are available including
a design guide with colour contrast tables listing specific colours and
shades.
22. RFA
Robert Feeney and Associates, Somerset House, 26 Frederick Street, Loughborough,
Leicestershire LE11 3BJ, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1509 610482
Fax: +44 1509 269991
Email: rfa-feeney@cwcom.net
RFA were commissioned by the UK Department of the Environment, Transport
and the Regions to survey the capabilities and characteristics of disabled
people with respect to their use of buildings. The work involved large
scale trials with disabled people to determine their reach characteristics
and space requirements when carrying out everyday activities. The results
have been used by industry for a British Standard on access to buildings.
23. RSA
The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce,
8 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6EZ, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7930 5115
Fax: +44 20 7839 5805
Email: general@rsa.org.uk
Web site: www.rsa.org.uk
RSA has a New Design for Old project within their long standing Student
Design Award Scheme. Design students run a project whereby they can put
into practice the tenets of universal design in an area of their own choosing.
The scheme is backed by companies, including manufacturers. Designs are
shown at a well-attended annual exhibition. Through the Student Design
Awards students can win work placements with companies.
24.RICA
Research Institute for Consumer Affairs, 30 Angel Gate, City Road, London
EC1V 2PT, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7427 2460
Fax: +44 20 7427 2468
Email: mail@ricability.org.uk
Web site: www.ricability.org.uk
RICA, which also trades as Ricability, is an independent charity that
does research and publishes information to enable older and disabled people
to live more independently. It carries out research on both specialist
aids and equipment and mainstream consumer products. RICA's publications
include guides to bathing aids, powered wheelchairs and stairlifts, and
to a wide range of domestic appliances. Since the 1980s it has researched
and promoted design for all principles. Its ongoing programme of assessing
the usability of domestic appliances is grounded in user trials with older
and disabled people.
25. UKIID
United Kingdom Institute for Inclusive Design
Membership Secretary, UKIID, 150a Church Lane, London SW17 9PU, United
Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 8682 0518
Fax: +44 20 8682 3027
Email: consultable@compuserve.com
Formerly the British Institute for Design and Disability (BIDD), it was
established in 1995. UKIID promotes design which includes everyone regardless
of age, gender or disability. A membership organisation which publishes
a newsletter, runs seminars and provides information on all aspects of
disability and design across Europe. Special interest groups include the
built environment, transport and products.
The Center for Universal Design:
www.ncsu.edu/www/ncsu/design/sod5/cud/
An American site with extensive information about design for all.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Contains copies of the Act and other helpful documents including guidelines.
Trace Research and Development Centre:
www.trace.wisc.edu
An American site with information on accessibility for older and
disabled people, including guidelines for the design of consumer products.
Royal National Institute for the Blind:
www.rnib.org.uk
An extensive UK site with information about visual disabilities.
Report Contents
Introduction
Why design for all is important
Using
research to identify needs - the basic toolkit
Product group checklists
- washing machines
- tumble driers
- vacuum cleaners
- microwave ovens
- electric irons
- electric kettles
- toasters
- food preparation machines
- telephones
- cars
The practical principles of design for all
What can be done to raise awareness
Useful contacts
