Universal Design: Obama And Sultey

In our nation, there is much relief and hope with the coming Obama administration. I like seeing him speak, I look forward to his words, and I am excited about his choices. He seems personable and genuinely caring.

On December 10 he announced members chosen to be on his green team. I watched the press conference and saw something unusual as a result of a rare camera angle. When it was Nancy Sutley’s turn at the podium the camera shot switched from the rear of the room to the side of the stage. I watched as President Elect Obama moved forward and using his foot, pushed a stepping stool into position for her. The gesture was personal; they shared a glance that was endearing and which acknowledged and appreciated the caring and the forethought. Seen from the back of the room, as in most network coverage, one saw little more than an odd smile.

With these extra inches to stand on, she presented her speech in no way marginalized by her shorter physical stature. Without these extra inches, she would barely peer over the podium, or, would have stood to its side, an action that would have unfairly singled her out from the other speakers.

I myself am very tall. This is seen in our culture as an asset. Politicians sometimes win and loose an election based on having added height. Short is never an advantage. In universal design, short or tall is affects usability, however, as seen in this example, one appreciates a different focus: height impacts perceptions of capability, tall is better, bolder and more powerful. This adaptation in the press conference leveled the playing field and gave us the opportunity see the people more clearly for their achievements and ambitions, not a physical attribute.

The application of universal design is ever evolving. In this example, a one-size-fits-all approach to design, the podium, heightens our perception of differences. A person can be marginalized not only by an environmental barrier to performing a given task but by how they are perceived in a given environment. Environment can enhance our perception of a person or diminish it (think Alice In Wonderland). Environments that strive to support equal perception of the people who function in them would be yet another evolution of universal design.


Konrad Kaletsch
Universal Design Resource
December 19, 2008