Language that supports sustainable development: How to write about people in universal design policy

Ericsson, Stina,1972University of Gothenburg,Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för svenska språket,Department of Swedish (författare)

Universal Design (UD) is a design approach that recognises and anticipates diversity as a fundamental human condition. UD is also frequently referred to in relation to the social dimension of sustainable development. Central to both UD and sustainability is the way “everyone,” as the target of UD and sustainability goals, is understood. The purpose of the study is to identify how UD’s “everyone” is conceptualised in Swedish UD policy and to provide a set of recommendations for how to categorise people with regards to UD. A qualitative text analysis is used, which investigates semiotic modes in relation to the content, form, and social relations of texts. Based on the analysis, two challenges for UD policy are identified: (i) how to convey that UD is design for everyone, and (ii) how to move away from a thought pattern of norm and deviation. Seven recommendations for how to approach categorisations of people in UD policy are formulated. We argue that an adoption of UD has the potential to bring about sustainable living environments for all, if integrated with social, economic, environmental, and spatial dimensions of development, but that in order for this to succeed, careful attention needs to be paid to how UD is conceptualised, and a radically different way of categorising people is necessary.

Wojahn, DanielUniversity of Gothenburg,Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för svenska språket,Department of Swedish(Swepub:gu)xwojda (författare)
Sandström, IdaLund University,Lunds universitet,Institutionen för arkitektur och byggd miljö,Institutioner vid LTH,Lunds Tekniska Högskola,Department of Architecture and Built Environment,Departments at LTH,Faculty of Engineering, LTH(Swepub:lu)arki-ism (författare)
Hedvall, Per-OlofLund University,Lunds universitet,Certec - Rehabiliteringsteknik och Design,Institutionen för designvetenskaper,Institutioner vid LTH,Lunds Tekniska Högskola,Certec - Rehabilitation Engineering and Design,Department of Design Sciences,Departments at LTH,Faculty of Engineering, LTH(Swepub:lu)cert-pha (författare)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för svenska språket (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Ericsson, Stina, ...; Wojahn, Daniel; Sandström, Ida; Hedvall, Per-Olo ...

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