Have you ever designed a blog or
website? How about an event poster or flyer?
Maybe you have the opportunity to help redesign part of your library
into a makerspace or teen reading area.
What are some of the things you consider? If you find yourself considering lighting,
shelf height and spacing, font size and style, or background patterns then you
have considered elements of Universal Design (UD).
In layman’s terms, UD includes
those elements you consider in order to make something easier for all users to access and use.
Online, it can include your choice of background patterns or
contrast between text and background color. It can also include how easy it is
to locate and click on a button or hyperlink. In a physical space, you might
consider lighting, flooring color and texture, the space between stacks, or
even signage to help users locate various library services, like the bathrooms, the
reference desk, or the copiers. For posters and flyers, you often have the same
considerations as when designing in an online space, but you might also consider the
height at which you post a flier, the background you place the flier upon, or the lighting where the flier is posted. Sure,
hanging a banner from the ceiling might be easy to read for some, but what if
it’s a short hallway and you use a wheelchair or you are shorter than average? And if you hang a flier on a glass door, can you still read the flier? Is it obstructing someone's view and causing a safety hazard?
These simple examples only touch on a few areas of UD. If you would like to learn more
about Universal Design and why it is important to consider in your library, you
can begin at ALA. You can also access this checklist from ALA or this one from Project enable.
