adaptable design

a human-centered approach to designing inclusive home features

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people in the U.S. turn 65 each day. By 2050, 88 million will be elderly.

%

of adults in america – more than 1 in 4 – are living with a disability

%

of U.S. housing units are universally accessible

the adaptable house project is working to reshape this narrative

Our team conducted human-centered research to identify key challenges among aging individuals with mobility limitations and designed potential features for adaptable kitchens and bathrooms.

what is adaptable design?

we used our research to define this approach to design and outlined principles and guidelines for broader use

  1. It goes beyond “accessible”

  2. It is grounded in the functional principles of universal design

  3. It couples an emphasis on the social and psychological aspects of design with the notion that users’ abilities are varied and dynamic

learn more about adaptable design

our approach

Photo of Azima, woman with dark hair standing against a tan backdrop
Photo of Sara, woman with dark hair standing in front of water
Photo of Devri, woman with dark straight hair standing in front of trees
Photo of Megan, woman with short dark hair standing in front of water

we are a team of Masters students at the University of Washington Department of Human Centered Design + Engineering who partnered with sponsor Mary Meyer for our capstone project.

learn more about our approach