A: With Japan becoming what the Japanese media like to call a "super aged society" (35.7% of the population is expected to be aged 65 or over in 2005), we need to create a society where the elderly and those with various handicaps can live fulfilling lives side by side with the unimpaired. This will require that changes be made to products and services on the market, and in this "universal design" will have an important role to play. Could you start then by giving us a definition of universal design?

B: Simply put, universal design means the design of products and other things, such as towns, parks and homes, in accordance with principles that enable everyone, whether they be elderly, disabled or unimpaired, to use them irrespective of their impairments.

A:Where did the idea first emerge?

B: It was first proposed by a group led by the late Ronald L. Mace of North Carolina State University in the United States, who said that the object of universal design was to design products, buildings, spaces and services to enable their use by people of all ages and abilities.

A: What was their motive?

B: They believed that, in keeping with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA Act), society must be changed to allow the disabled to lead various lifestyles just like ordinary citizens. They realized that, rather than eliminating inconveniences to disabled people by means of what in Japan is called welfare equipment (a term covering a plethora of devices ranging from wheelchairs to ergonomically designed cutlery for stroke victims) and welfare facilities, it was necessary to design ordinary products, buildings and spaces to be usable by not only the disabled, but also people of all ages, builds and abilities. For this they coined the term "universal design" .

A: Although universal design may be defined as "design to enable use by all" , isn't this in practice impossible?

B: Quite probably. It may therefore be more useful to think of the aim of universal design as being to design things to enable their use by as many people as possible. Universal design is in this respect a development approach. It does not refer to any particular object that has been designed, and it would be wrong to say that a particular product is universal design. It is more helpful to say that something has been developed in accordance with principles of universal design.

A: What are the merits for a company of adopting universal design?

B: Firstly, by trying to make its products more accessible to all, the company can gain an image for itself as a good and conscientious company. Secondly, by enabling disabled people and others who feel impaired to use its products, the company can expand its customer base. And thirdly, developing products and services from a universal design perspective can lead to the development of completely new and unconventional products.

A: How should one go about developing products in accordance with universal design principles?

B: There are basically three ways. The first is to develop products and services based on new concepts that are accessible to as many people right from the outset. The second way is to adapt conventional products and services to make them usable by as many people as possible. And the third way is to adapt welfare equipment to bring it into the mainstream and make it usable by as many people as possible.

A: What points should one keep in mind in universal design?

B: There are nine points to be borne in mind when developing products and services in accordance with universal design principles:

1. They should be usable by anyone on a fair basis.
   
2. They should be freely usable.
   
3. The method of use should be simple and easy to use.
   
4. It should be possible to immediately understand necessary information.
   
5. Errors and dangerous states should not immediately occur.
   
6. They should be easy to use without requiring the user to enter difficult positions or have great strength.
   
7. Dimensions and spaces should be such that they allow the user to approach and use the product in close proximity.
   
8. They should be attractive to look at and pleasant to the touch, and be of an original shape.
   
9. It should be easy to acquire information about products and services.
   

A: Apparently there has also recently emerged something called "universal fashion" .

B: Yes. Put another way, universal fashion is "fashion for all" , i.e. fashionable clothing and accessories that can be enjoyed by all regardless of age, build and ability or impairment. The giant casual clothing retailer UNIQLO, owned by Fast Retailing, aims to produce "universal fashion" . Producing unisex apparel by making clothing that can be comfortably worn by anyone is one example of this.

A:What kinds of examples are there of goods made in accordance with universal design principles?

B:There are a great many. Light clothing, for example, such as T-shirts, shirts, pants and underwear. Large muffler that can also be worn as coats is another example, as are items such as neck warmers and shoulder warmers worn in combination with other items of clothing. Additional examples include socks made without using rubber, and healthy, comfortable goods for the home, such as pillows, cushions and tableware. Stoles and mufflers kept in place with Velcro are further examples. A catalog focusing especially on such products called "The Pick of Universal Design Products" has recently been launched in Japan. Distribution channels are also beginning to expand, with some companies now starting to use the Internet to reach customers. Even department stores such as Isetan and Takashimaya are beginning to sell universal clothing.

A:What is the outlook for the future?

B:The introduction of fashion wear design adopting a universal design approach has only just got underway. "Universal design" is seen by some as being for the disabled and elderly, and is consequently being given a wide berth by ordinary consumers. In the months and years ahead, though, I expect that, through a process of repeated trial and error, universal design will spread and catch on.