Designing for every consumer with universal design

Residential Architect, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Mark R. Johnson

Universal design isn't just for the physically challenged. It provides a solution for our aging demography. With a growing percentage of our population reaching retirement age, universal design is a growing trend in home design.

It's also part of Whirlpool Corporation's commitment to serve the needs of every consumer. In fact, our goal to develop universal design product solutions is derived from Whirlpool's mission statement, "Every Home, Everywhere, with Pride, Passion and Performance."

Good universal design provides solutions in ways that aren't obvious or obscure, but rather ingenious. Whirlpool[R] and KitchenAid[R] appliances are addressing universal design with a number of innovative features.

For example, pedestals for front-loading washers, dryers and dishwashers raise each appliance, minimizing the need for bending, whether the user is standing or sitting in a wheelchair.

We've also moved the handles, buttons and graphics for many of our appliances to the front, closer to the user. This design change reduces the need to reach, if that is your client's physical challenge. It also reduces the potential for burns from a hot stovetop by eliminating the need to reach over electric or gas burners. In refrigerators and freezers, it is much easier to adjust controls near the front instead of reaching behind groceries. Easy-to-read graphics and intuitive controls are improvements we've made that benefit everyone.

Our KitchenAid brand recently introduced the briva[R] in-sink dishwasher, the world's first of its kind, it shortens the distance between the sink and dishwasher and it's top loading, eliminating the need to bend over to access dishes.

On the horizon is our newest appliance with a universal design feature--the dishwasher drawer. In a typical undercounter application, access to the top drawer requires no bending over.

By the way, our focus on people's backs and bending may seem obvious. But as the website www.back.com reports, "About 80% of people will experience a significant bout of low back pain at some point during their lifetime." It's a problem we're doing something about.

While some of our universal design features may seem small (and they typically are), to the older or physically challenged individual they can be big in terms of convenience, safety and overall quality of life.

If you have ideas on how we can do a better job of making products that address your clients' particular lifestyle needs or physical challenges, please let me know at mark_r_johnson@whirlpool.com. We would welcome the opportunity to involve our engineers and industrial designers in your design process.

Mark R. Johnson, FAIA, AIBD

Manager, Architectural and Design Marketing