Origins: From Architecture to Education

The concept of universal design originated in architecture and product design in the 1970s and 1980s, championed by architect Ronald Mace, who argued that environments and products should be designed from the outset to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design. The classic example is the kerb cut: designed originally for wheelchair users, it benefits cyclists, parents with prams, delivery workers, and countless others. This insight — that designing for the margins benefits everyone — became the philosophical cornerstone of UDL when applied to education.