What must designs for products and environments do to extend independence and improve the quality of life for all who use them—young or old, able or disabled?

Transgenerational designs provides these answers:

• Bridge the transitions across life's stages;
• Respond to the widest range of individual differences and abilities;
• Offer the means to accomplish one's activities of daily living through a variety of means;
• Provide an opportunity to maintain one's dignity and sense of self worth;
• Enable personal and social interaction, employment, and community participation among people of all ages and abilities.

Transgenerational designs of products and environments reflect the following basic principles:

• Safety — freedom from danger, injury, or damage under reasonable conditions by all who may be expected to handle, use, or operate them. Transgenerational designs anticipate a wide variety of physical and sensory impairments, providing safe, supporting features even before they may be needed.

• Comfort — freedom from disturbing, painful, or stigmatizing forms or features. Transgenerational designs provide physical and sensory comfort for those with impairments as well as those who are able-bodied.

• Convenience — convenient, handy, and appropriate use for all who would use them. This means such things as convenient use, transport, packaging, storage, operation, cleaning and repair.

• Ease of Use — simple, uncomplicated, and easy to use. Designs should offer readable and understandable instructions and directions, simple operations, and logical controls that do not confound our intelligence, and easy use that does not tire our muscles, or defy our dexterity—regardless of our age or ability.

• Ergonomic Fit — physical and sensory accommodation and fit for the widest possible range of appropriate human dimensions. Designs recognize that while bodily dimensions and abilities reach their full limits during our late teens and early twenties, they also diminish as we age.

• Suitability — appropriateness of size, function, appearance, adjustability, accommodation, and symbolism.

• User Value — infusing 'utility' with user-sensitive value-added perceptions, components, and features. Value satisfies consumers' desire by translating their expectations into positive reactions, thereby maintaining self respect, extending independence, and promoting satisfaction.
  
  
  

We can help you design transgenerational products and environments that provide this expected support!