INTRODUCTION This study explores the theme of Design for All, which is design for human diversity, social inclusion and equality. It aims to design environments and services for all users’ needs regardless of age, physical features, country, abilities and disabilities. Even if knowledge and theoretical researches on DfA are growing, the practical application of its principles in architecture needs to be improved. The difference between prescriptive approach of legislation on accessibility and descriptive approach of DfA was analysed; it suggested the question about how DfA descriptive approach could actually be used in design practice. Thus, the thesis’ purpose is to shift DfA from theory to practice throughout the development of a tool for designers, in order to support them in the application of this strategy in their projects. METHOD A literature review has been conducted to identify and evaluate methods and instruments used to apply DfA in architecture. The first part of the research took place at the University of Hasselt in Belgium, where this theme was investigated also through a focus on haptic design. This helps specify the range of design indications for architects contained in the tool. Through the literature review’s results and the last study, a method based on four criteria was defined in order to develop the tool. RESULTS The first practical result of the research was the drafting of a manual that provides design indications on haptic design, organized according to a system of architectural elements of the urban space and public buildings. The indications were presented in relation with three users’ needs addressed in haptic design (move, guide, rest). After the manual was tested with students at Hasselt University during a workshop at the Universal Design Week. In particular, this application represents an attempt to include the end-users in the design process of the tool, following the Design for All strategy. Indeed, the assessment revealed the strengths and weaknesses of this tool. Research then continued in Italy, where an analysis of multiple sources on architects’ needs regarding information formats used in the design phase, allowed the elaboration of a smart tool based on the previous findings. The outcome of the design was an app prototype called TIPS (Transfer Information Platform Service), which represents a user-friendly informative platform to support architects in the Design for All practice. The final phase of the research consisted in the evaluation of the app through four interviews with architects of architecture firms in Milan who participated in the Archidiversity project. In this case, the stakeholders involved represent the experts in this field who evaluate the tool to give useful advice in order to improve the app’s characteristics in the final phase of the redesign. The final app’s proposal, over design indications, also includes information about users’ needs and different references that inspire designers, in order to define a descriptive and performance-based model of knowledge. Furthermore, the app allows users to save the contents and also sharing them to ensure an information exchange. CONCLUSIONS The research process ends with the definition of the app prototype TIPS, ready for the validation and available to a series of real applications. The thesis contributes to further research both theoretically and through new analysis performed with a wider number of different users towards the improvement and possible realisation of the app. Therefore, the contribution of the presented research represents a first step towards a more detailed study of tools and methods that allow the application of a Design for All strategy in the design practice.
INTRODUZIONE La ricerca affronta il tema del Design for All, cioè il design per la diversità umana, l’inclusione sociale e l’uguaglianza, che ha come scopo la progettazione di ambienti e servizi per tutte le necessità degli utenti indipendentemente dall’età, caratteristiche fisiche, paese, abilità o disabilità. Mentre la conoscenza e le ricerche teoriche sul DfA stanno crescendo, l’applicazione concreta dei suoi principi nella pratica di architettura necessita di essere potenziata. Viene analizzata la differenza tra l’aspetto prescrittivo delle leggi sull’accessibilità e quello descrittivo del DfA, che apre il quesito di come poter usare quest’ultimo in modo concreto nella progettazione. L’obiettivo della tesi quindi è di passare dalla teoria alla pratica nel Design for All, attraverso lo sviluppo di uno strumento indirizzato ai progettisti, per supportarli nell'applicazione di questa strategia nei loro progetti. METODO Viene eseguita una revisione della letteratura per identificare e valutare tutti i metodi e gli strumenti usati per applicare il DfA nella progettazione. Una prima fase della ricerca viene condotta in Belgio all’Università di Hasselt, dove il tema è stato investigato anche tramite un focus sul design tattile, che ha contribuito a specificare il range di indicazioni progettuali da trasferire agli architetti attraverso lo strumento. Tramite i risultati della revisione della letteratura e quest’ultimo approfondimento è stato definito un metodo basato su quattro criteri usato come riferimento per lo sviluppo dello strumento. RISULTATI Uno dei primi risultati pratici della ricerca è la redazione di un manuale che fornisce indicazioni progettuali sul design tattile, organizzate secondo un sistema di elementi architettonici dello spazio urbano e degli edifici pubblici. Le indicazioni sono presentate in relazione alle tre necessità degli utenti riscontrate nel design tattile (move, guide, rest). Successivamente, il manuale viene testato durante il workshop della Universal Design Week svolta presso l’Università di Hasselt. In particolare, tramite questa applicazione gli utenti finali sono inclusi nel processo progettuale dello strumento, seguendo la strategia Design for All. La valutazione che ne segue rivela i punti di forza e di debolezza dello strumento. La ricerca prosegue in Italia dove un’analisi di differenti risorse sulle necessità degli architetti riguardo i format di informazione utilizzati nella progettazione, permette di elaborare uno smart tool interattivo e webased a partire dai risultati precedenti. L’esito della ricerca è il prototipo di un app chiamata TIPS (Transfer Information Platform Service), che rappresenta una piattaforma flessibile e interattiva che fornisce informazioni e consigli utili ai progettisti per mettere in pratica il DfA. La fase finale della ricerca consiste nella valutazione dell’app tramite quattro interviste ad architetti milanesi che hanno partecipato al progetto Archidiversity. In questo caso gli stakeholders coinvolti rappresentano gli esperti nella materia e sono chiamati a valutare lo strumento al fine di migliorarne le caratteristiche nella fase conclusiva di restyling. Il risultato finale dell’app include oltre alle indicazioni progettuali anche informazioni sulle necessità degli utenti e riferimenti per ispirare il progettista, definendo un modello prestazionale e descrittivo di conoscenza. Inoltre l’app permette agli utenti di salvare i contenuti e anche di condividerli per garantire uno scambio continuo di informazioni. CONCLUSIONI Il processo di ricerca si conclude con la definizione del prototipo dell’app TIPS, pronto ad essere validato e reso disponibile ad una serie di applicazioni reali. Il lavoro di tesi si presta allo sviluppo di ricerche future sia a livello teorico che per il miglioramento e la realizzazione dell’app. Pertanto il contributo della presente ricerca rappresenta il primo passo verso uno studio più dettagliato su strumenti e metodi che permettono di applicare la strategia Design for All nella pratica della progettazione.
Design for all TIPS (Transfer Information Platform Service) : a smart tool supporting the application of design for all in architectural practice
MOSCA, ERICA ISA
2015/2016
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study explores the theme of Design for All, which is design for human diversity, social inclusion and equality. It aims to design environments and services for all users’ needs regardless of age, physical features, country, abilities and disabilities. Even if knowledge and theoretical researches on DfA are growing, the practical application of its principles in architecture needs to be improved. The difference between prescriptive approach of legislation on accessibility and descriptive approach of DfA was analysed; it suggested the question about how DfA descriptive approach could actually be used in design practice. Thus, the thesis’ purpose is to shift DfA from theory to practice throughout the development of a tool for designers, in order to support them in the application of this strategy in their projects. METHOD A literature review has been conducted to identify and evaluate methods and instruments used to apply DfA in architecture. The first part of the research took place at the University of Hasselt in Belgium, where this theme was investigated also through a focus on haptic design. This helps specify the range of design indications for architects contained in the tool. Through the literature review’s results and the last study, a method based on four criteria was defined in order to develop the tool. RESULTS The first practical result of the research was the drafting of a manual that provides design indications on haptic design, organized according to a system of architectural elements of the urban space and public buildings. The indications were presented in relation with three users’ needs addressed in haptic design (move, guide, rest). After the manual was tested with students at Hasselt University during a workshop at the Universal Design Week. In particular, this application represents an attempt to include the end-users in the design process of the tool, following the Design for All strategy. Indeed, the assessment revealed the strengths and weaknesses of this tool. Research then continued in Italy, where an analysis of multiple sources on architects’ needs regarding information formats used in the design phase, allowed the elaboration of a smart tool based on the previous findings. The outcome of the design was an app prototype called TIPS (Transfer Information Platform Service), which represents a user-friendly informative platform to support architects in the Design for All practice. The final phase of the research consisted in the evaluation of the app through four interviews with architects of architecture firms in Milan who participated in the Archidiversity project. In this case, the stakeholders involved represent the experts in this field who evaluate the tool to give useful advice in order to improve the app’s characteristics in the final phase of the redesign. The final app’s proposal, over design indications, also includes information about users’ needs and different references that inspire designers, in order to define a descriptive and performance-based model of knowledge. Furthermore, the app allows users to save the contents and also sharing them to ensure an information exchange. CONCLUSIONS The research process ends with the definition of the app prototype TIPS, ready for the validation and available to a series of real applications. The thesis contributes to further research both theoretically and through new analysis performed with a wider number of different users towards the improvement and possible realisation of the app. Therefore, the contribution of the presented research represents a first step towards a more detailed study of tools and methods that allow the application of a Design for All strategy in the design practice.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2017_04_Mosca.pdf
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Descrizione: Testo della tesi
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/134184