When good design meets accessibility, everyday spaces can work better for everyone. Ian Streets, NRAC consultant at About Access, explores the tension between “design intent” and practical usability in kitchens and beyond
It started as a discussion about options for improving the accessibility of a kitchen layout, but in no time at all, it had descended into a disagreement about “design intent”.
Before we knew it, we were talking about whether the tap should be at the back of the sink or at the side.
Understanding design intent
There was little doubt that a side-mounted tap would be more accessible. The argument for the more conventional approach was that it would align with the designer’s wishes. We were in the territory of form over function, and of scouring the internet for similar scenarios.
It’s reported that the concept of “design intent” emerged during the 20th century and refers to the underlying purpose and goals behind a design project. Various sources indicate that understanding design intent helps ensure the final product matches the creator’s vision and effectively meets user needs.
The crux is that last bit, with one source suggesting that designers are focused on “aesthetically pleasing solutions that resonate with their intended audience”. Users may prefer functionality, safety and sustainability.
Real-world example
Our example arose when I flagged up that every time I visited a particular organisation to carry out an access audit of their premises, I found that taps were being fitted at the back of the sink.
I suggested they might be better at the side and more accessible to users by being closer to the front.
But for the first time on this particular project, and some time after we had submitted our thoughts on the proposed layout, the designer dropped in the “design intent” requirement.
I ran it past the head of health and safety, who asked me to send a separate email setting out why I thought it was a good idea to have the tap at the side. The designer responded that they hadn’t been able to find any examples of taps at the side of the sink that looked nice.
They could be right on that point, because there seems to be a dearth of images – nice or not-so-nice – showing taps on the side. But our view is that you don’t have to stick to convention. You don’t have to keep things the way you have always done them. You should always be looking to do things better and make life easier for people – doing things like fitting taps at the side of the sink if required.
In our scenario, there’s someone in the organisation – the health and safety lead –who wants to make things more accessible and inclusive and is doing their best, but doesn’t have the authority. Then there’s the designer, whose vision of how things should look seemingly doesn’t extend to disabled people.
Everyday accessibility challenges
But I come from the viewpoint that if we can make the environment accessible to more people, then why not? If there is an issue with practicality, what is it, and why hasn’t anybody mentioned it? Is there a cost implication to having a side tap? If so, is it prohibitive, negligible, or no difference if done at the design stage?
Other examples of kitchen conundrums include the positioning of microwaves without a counter on the opening side of the door, which creates the need to navigate around the door to put items in and take them out.
Or where a designer is looking for a clean look, so they don’t put handles on cupboards and drawers, resulting in people having to be able to put their fingers in the grooves. That’s not always easy or even possible.
Embracing inclusive design
We’re not demanding that side taps, microwave shelves and cupboard handles should be compulsory, but it would be nice to have them on the list of options to help improve accessibility.
There’s no reason why the creativity and vision which delivers good design cannot also embrace improved accessibility. There’s also no reason the design intent behind a project cannot be set out in simple terms and in plenty of time to ensure everything flows smoothly.
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