Accessibility and Safety for all

I have spent the last 15 years working in the field of heath care related design including CCRC’s (continuing care retirement communities) and consulting as a certified ageing in place specialist for both residential and commercial buildings. I was offered a job fresh out of college working with the EH&S department at the Florida State University. I credit FSU and my dedicated EH&S coworkers for the success of my career in placing safety at the top of my list for all of my projects. Many people think of the career of Interior Design as “decorator,” sure there is an aesthetic aspect to the job, but the number one driver behind every decision is protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public. 'Form Follows Function,' the words of the American architect Louis Sullivan who coined the phrase, in 1896, in his article "The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered". Here Sullivan actually said 'form ever follows function', but the simpler (and less emphatic) phrase is the one usually remembered. For Sullivan this was distilled wisdom, an aesthetic credo, the single "rule that shall permit of no exception". The full quote is thus:

It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law.[3]

I remember a few years back having a conversation with my parents regarding flooring options for their home in Florida; my mom was looking at a ceramic tile product that wasn't slip resistant and I mentioned to her that the number one cause of death of elderly people were from complications caused by a fall. She simply stated that she and my dad did not have many elderly visitors. This comment took me by surprise being they were both in their seventies at the time. While this consideration comes into consciousness when thinking of the elderly the reality is that unforeseeable circumstances, such as a debilitating accident of decreased mobility due to aging, can force many out of their familiar and comfortable surroundings. These life-altering changes often result in new housing or space requirements to simply maintain an independent lifestyle.

Universal Design ensures that home and building owners will always have an easily accessible, safe and comfortable place for themselves and visitors alike. The Universal design concept emphasizes the importance of constructing and maintaining buildings to allow for easy accessibility and safety for people of all ages and abilities.

Interior Designers are knowledgeable of how interiors affect health, safety and welfare of the public and whether interior elements comply with federal, national (IBC, NEC and NFPA) and state codes (FBC) particularly those that pertain to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements. The principles of design are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity. We use the elements and principles of design in a way that make environments safe and aesthetic.