Beyond "Us" and "Them" – A Lecture About Universal Design

A short lecture on Universal Design, recorded for a course in spring 2026. I start with a train ride, introduce the three concepts that together create the conditions for participation: Accessibility, Usability and Universal Design. I show two examples of categorisation that supports Universal Design: From person to function, and From norm and deviation to variation. Chapters 0:00 A situation where you are not the one they had in mind 0:50 The train ride 3:41 Built-in values, norm and deviation 4:25 Accessibility, usability and Universal Design 6:58 The train ride, seen through the three concepts 9:26 Already vs. Not Yet 9:59 "Us and them" comes from categorisation 10:55 From person to function 12:36 From norm and deviation to variation 14:40 Universal Design is about societal change 16:18 Thank you Read more on my website Universal Design, the field and the three concepts: https://peohedvall.com/key-ideas#univ... Categorisation, and how it shapes and limits design: https://peohedvall.com/key-ideas#cate... "Us" and "them": https://peohedvall.com/key-ideas#us-a... Three guidelines with examples you can use in your own work: https://peohedvall.com/how-to The paper on the three concepts, Hedvall, Ståhl & Iwarsson (2025): https://peohedvall.com/papers#harmoni... The train ride as a newsletter edition: https://peohedvall.com/posts/n8-why-g... The newsletter Nonclusive by Design on LinkedIn:   / nonclusive-by-design-7357532495048769537   References in the lecture: Hedvall, Ståhl & Iwarsson (2025), Accessibility, usability and universal design – still confusing? Disability and Rehabilitation. Hedvall, Price, Keller & Ericsson (2022), Towards 3rd Generation Universal Design: Exploring Nonclusive Design. Hornscheidt (2009) and Bowker & Star (1999), as cited on the slides. The closing quote is Mace (1985), quoted in Iwarsson (2009). "Not Yet" comes from Titchkosky (2011). Per-Olof Hedvall, Professor of Design, Mid Sweden University. More about Universal Design: https://peohedvall.com