When BWBR’s design team talks about creating spaces that “welcome and work for everyone,” it isn’t PR speak or a feel-good talking point. They’re addressing one of architecture’s most complex challenges. Truly equitable design requires intention and thoughtful consideration of elements that go far beyond code compliance.
Design Leader Lisa Miller, Interior Designer Katie Reed, and Senior Architectural Designer Josh Simma recently sat down to untangle the often-confused concepts of accessible, universal, and inclusive design. Their conversation reveals why these distinctions matter and how they’re reshaping the way spaces get built.
Three Terms, Three Different Worlds
Many people use the terms “accessible,” “universal,” and “inclusive” design interchangeably. They shouldn’t.
“Accessible design is really design that specifically addresses the needs of people with disabilities,” Lisa says. “The goal of that is to ensure that the people with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, or other impairments can access and use the spaces that we design.”
Universal design takes a different approach. It “aims to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design,” Lisa says. “Think of universal design as a one-size-fits-all.”
But, when it comes to design, one size doesn’t actually fit all. Children don’t have the same reach ranges as adults. What works for someone using a wheelchair might not work for someone with a visual impairment. That’s where inclusive design comes in.
“Inclusive design is design that recognizes diversity and difference and intentionally includes as many people as possible, especially those who are often excluded,” Lisa explains. The goal is creating variety “so that each person can find a space within the environments we build that suits them.”
Lisa likes to think of these as nested circles, with accessible design as the baseline, universal design capturing a broader audience, and inclusive design casting the widest net by providing options rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
The Reality (and Beauty) of Human Diversity
When designing spaces, Katie thinks about the incredible range of experiences each person brings. Age, race, and gender identity are obvious starting points, but she goes deeper.
“I’m an introvert, so I’m going to look for somewhere that I can really focus in and it’s going to be quieter, maybe not coming out and talking as much,” Katie says. Someone else might thrive in a bustling, collaborative environment.
The design team worked on a Saint Paul workplace project that perfectly encapsulated these nuances. They eliminated carpet tiles with different pile heights after realizing people with certain gaits might catch their shoes on the transitions. They removed dark black tiles that could appear as steps or holes to someone with visual impairment.
Designing for the Human Experience
“The goal of both the Building Codes for Accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act is basically that everything in the design environment needs to be accessible,” Josh says. But the technical requirements can sometimes muddy those waters.
Accessible environments require enough space for mobility aids, but as Lisa explains, “some people get uncomfortable in a larger space, and they will love to work in a phone booth, but that phone booth isn’t accessible,” Lisa explains.
This tension runs through many design decisions. Take work surface heights. Accessible design requires specific counter heights for wheelchair users. Universal design would call for every surface at the same height. Inclusive design provides options: height-adjustable surfaces where they matter most, plus a variety of work settings throughout the space.
“Maybe our workstation for most of our day is height-adjustable,” Katie adds. “But then we’re thinking about other furniture settings. Are we using laptop tables throughout the day? Coffee tables, other bar height or standing height options?”
Even color selection must be viewed through an inclusive lens. Current design trends favor muted, neutral palettes that age well and appeal broadly. But Katie and Lisa personally represent opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to sensory needs.
The challenge isn’t picking sides. It’s creating spaces with enough variety that both preferences can be accommodated. Some areas might pop with color and pattern for people who need visual stimulation to focus. Others might offer quieter, more restful environments.
Beyond Codes and Compliance
Codes are important for creating consistent standards, but top designers believe compliance is the minimum standard, not the end of the story. Maybe that’s why the most intriguing part of this conversation isn’t about following rules. It’s about the spaces between the rules where good design happens.
“We as designers do a great job of trying to really cast that wide net for how people might use a space,” Josh says. This includes acknowledging different usage priorities, such as religious practices that may require meditation or prayer spaces, or areas for washing as part of daily rituals.
These aren’t code requirements. They’re design opportunities that emerge when teams ask better questions early in the process. “We have to be the ones to bring those questions up early on when we’re planning the building, because those are the spaces we shouldn’t just be trying to fit in,” Lisa says. “We have to be intentional.”
Small Changes, Big Impact
The team emphasizes that inclusive design doesn’t mean trying to accommodate everyone in every space. That path leads to bland compromises that serve no one well.
“Sometimes you try to do too many things and you end up with a white box,” Lisa says. “You end up with just a boring space, because you’re like, we don’t want to do anything that might feel this way, or this might do this.”
Instead, they focus on key areas where small changes can have a significant impact, and make those changes highly specific to the client. On their Saint Paul project, they concentrated on carpet patterns, wall base contrast, and lighting glare.
The process requires a deep understanding of clients, asking the right questions, and advocating for solutions that may push boundaries. It means recognizing that every project demands individual solutions.
