Universal Design

TOMI information screen with wheelchair user and young boy

TOMI won gold in European Product Design Awards!

21/08/2019

TOMI is gold in design for society with the “TOMI For All” accessibility project. The EPDA has received hundreds of applications from more than 75 countries.

TOMI received gold in the “Design for Society” category at the European Product Design Awards, one of the most important design competitions in the world, that includes the European Parliament as its partner.

The winning project was the “TOMI For All,” which ensures that everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive needs, can seek intelligent information and services at TOMI. This innovation in the interactive urban platform was implemented earlier this year and promotes inclusion and accessibility in cities. TOMI has implemented new features that bring new dynamics to the digital transformation of cities and it has become accessible to all citizens with disabilities by making all services available to people with physical, visual, hearing or cognitive disabilities.

Hotel room image with female wheelchair user and standing male guest

Jean Yves Prodel on hotel design suited to all users

02/07/2017

Today, architects should not consider accessibility as a set of technical answers but as an architectural desire which gives everyone the feeling of being the same.

I am inspired by the principles of Universal Design, a method of designing accessible and inclusive spaces and environments suited to all users, regardless of their needs, size, age, motor, sensory and mental abilities.

For more than 15 years, I have been helping professionals in the hotel and tourism industry to develop comfortable and accessible rooms where it is pleasant to stay.

It simply requires ergonomics that respects comfort, safety, simplicity, ease, but certainly not in response to excessive standardization that has been frozen for over 50 years! According to my international experience as a wheelchair user, 90% of hotel rooms reserved for people with reduced mobility (PMR - Personne à mobilité Réduite) are only accessible with pain.