Goals & Objectives

Design for All aims to place the user at the centre of its activities.

"Turning constraints into opportunities"

- Giulio Giorello, La libertà e i suoi vincoli, Lit Edizioni, 2017

In recent years, there has been a shift in how space and end users interact. The previous paradigm, which relied on individuals' ability to adapt to building spaces (which were often inaccessible), has been reworked..

Today, it is widely accepted that the perception of disability derives from the interaction between the individual and the built environment.

If this environment is well designed, the physical limitations of the user are “reset” and the strengths of the individual emphasized; if the space is poorly conceived, however, differences between the "standard" man (which does not exist) and the "real" one - even with disabilities - are amplified, resulting in clear inequalities.

Planners, architects, and designers are able to showcase the social aspects of their project through the application of the Design for All process promoted by the Competence Centre. By using a participatory methodology, it is possible to create solutions that are inclusive, flexible, and immediately usable.

4 main goals:

Developing and promoting the Design for All Process

The Design for All Process provides guidelines to design and build inclusive spaces.

•   Multidisciplinary approach and synergies among the different stakeholders
•   Weighted analysis of needs and wants
•   Formal participation of the users (upon request)

This work method enables the creation of spaces that meet design objectives without the need for future adjustments.

Raising the bar for accessibility

By applying Design for All principles and working with partners on significant urban development projects, new buildings, products and services implementation, we can disseminate the expertise related to Design for All and obtain solutions that are tailored to every individual.

Promoting the culture of inclusiveness

The Design for All offers practical tools to promote self-determination for people with disabilities. By combining the need to ensure accessibility and the desire to express a high aesthetic value of the project, the principle of inclusion becomes tangible.

Fostering CRPD implementation

Switzerland has pledged to eliminate physical and conceptual barriers and promote equal opportunities in civil society by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2014. The application of the Design for All principles shows this commitment and translates into real and visible actions what is contemplated in the articles of the Convention.