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Strategic Use of Universal Design as a Business Tool for 21st Century
Sooshin Choi
Associate Professor of Industrial Design
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0016 USA
Sooshin.choi@uc.edu

Abstract:

Industrial design has been a core phenomenon in our modern world, and no one can live without
design. However, in many cases, industrial design has been narrowly defined as an optional effort to
make things look better and work better. This is the main reason why there are many not-sosuccessful
designs and users and the manufacturers are not benefited from design.
Universal design is a philosophy, concept, and a method to design and develop environment and
products to benefit broader range of people. However there are several reasons for universal design
not being successfully practiced. First, due to the lack of correct understanding of its strategic value
to industry, there are not many successful universal design products available. Second, unlike to
architecture, there is no legislatorial or social pressure for universal design in industry; there are not
many universal design products.
This paper re-defines the role of industrial design and the strategic value of universal design in the
industrial context. In short, how to make the universal design a strategic tool for the business to
create values for the users as well as industry.