Introduction to International Association for Universal Design
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Introduction to International Association for Universal Design V Kunio Tsutatani (Manuscript received October 13, 2004) In Japan, many products incorporating Universal Design (UD) have recently been marketed and successes with such products have been increasing. In December 2002, the International Conference for Universal Design in Japan 2002 was held in Japan, this being the first conference on UD to be held in our country. Based on ideas pro- posed at this conference and the conclusions drawn, the International Association for Universal Design (IAUD) was inaugurated in November 2003. Membership of the IAUD is not limited to manufacturing industries. Its many members span all representative Japanese industries, from the distribution industry to the service industry. The IAUD will not just concern itself with educational programs related to UD and the promotion of UD, it is hoped that it will be an influential proactive organization that addresses complex UD problems that could not be solved by individual companies or industries, through cooperation between industry, government, and academia. This paper describes the history of the establishment of the IAUD, outlines its activities and reports on Designing for the 21st Century III, a recently held international conference on UD. Also, this paper looks at Fujitsu’s involvement in the IAUD, the impact of the IAUD on business and its role in the creation of new business opportunities and gives an outlook for future activities. 1. Introduction projects that cross industry and business bound- There had been tremendous activity in in- aries with the aim of creating attractive products dustry with many attempts being made to apply and services. It has been roughly a year since UD in products. Then, on 28 November 2003, the member companies formerly began working on the International Association for Universal Design IAUD projects. At the beginning, 109 companies (IAUD) was inaugurated with the objectives of were members of the IAUD and this had grown to reviving the Japanese economy from its protract- 135 companies as of October 2004. In April 2004, ed slump and contributing to the development of the IAUD’s seven committees started operating an enduring social framework by achieving the on a full scale, their responsibilities including further penetration of UD. Since its inaugura- theme studies, business development and dissem- tion, the IAUD has been engaged in activities to ination of results. raise UD to a higher level through the sharing of Fujitsu has not been an ordinary member of information among industry, government and the IAUD by any means. We played a major role academia on the basis of ideas proposed and in its inauguration and have been actively partic- conclusions reached at the International Confer- ipating in its operation. Mr. Yamamoto, Chairman ence for Universal Design in Japan 2002. In order Emeritus of Fujitsu, serves as its chairperson, and to realize a world that is really comfortable to live Fujitsu staff are members of the IAUD’s Council, in for everyone, the IAUD is pursuing lateral Board of Directors and other committees. FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J., 41,1,p.47-53(April 2005) 47 K. Tsutatani: Introduction to International Association for Universal Design The author also participated in the establish- establishment of the IAUD. ment of the IAUD and is currently a member of its Information Accessibility Committee. In this 3. Inauguration of IAUD paper, we will review the activities of the IAUD The IAUD’s inauguration ceremony was held since it was established and its current activities on 28 November 2003. and report on the international UD conference A total of 325 people attended, including 57 “Designing for the 21st Century III.” In the final members of the press. There was first a speech section, we will consider the role of the IAUD in by His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito, industry and Fujitsu’s involvement in it.1)-4) Patron of the IAUD. Several examples of the use of the UD concept in products over the years were given, one of them equipment developed by a ski 2. International Conference for manufacturer enabling anyone to ski like a nor- Universal Design in Japan mal person. This provided an opportunity to think 2002 set stage for IAUD about the direction that the IAUD should go in We would first like to describe the International the future and made everyone enthusiastic about Conference for Universal Design in Japan 2002 its future activities. After the inauguration cere- and what it resulted in since this conference set mony, there was a party at which Mr. Nakagawa, the stage for the inauguration of the IAUD. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and The conference was Japan’s first international Mr. Nishimuro, Vice Chairman of Japanese meeting on the theme of UD and was held at Paci- Federation of Economic Organizations, made fico Yokohama from November 30 to December 4, congratulatory speeches in which they spoke about 2002. It followed the international conferences the expectations on UD to be driving force in on UD held in the United States in 1998 and 2000. Japanese industry and the role of the public and It was held at the instigation of five designers who private sectors in its promotion. Many attendees had taken part in the conferences in the US as expressed their confidence in the future direction well as through the good offices of His Imperial of IAUD activities. Executives of member compa- Highness Prince Tomohito. Participants were nies had a prominent presence at the party, and private sector companies and design-related many of them showed a strong desire to promote organizations, and receiving the support of UD. Speeches by an advisor to the IAUD on cre- central and regional governments, public design ating overseas networks and representatives of and UD-related organizations, universities and educational institutions and UD organizations other educational institutions, the conference also expressed high expectations for the IAUD. achieved its goal of collaboration among industry, In the exhibition area set up at the party venue government and academia. were panels showing how 34 companies were re- A total of 693 persons from 20 countries sponding to the challenge of UD, and 17 companies registered for the conference, among them 87 from had exhibited products based on UD. This also outside Japan, and 750 people attended the let one feel the enthusiasm of the participants for public symposiums. The exhibition area had 3200 UD. visitors. The conference had 29 major corporate sponsors and was supported by another 4 4. Concept of IAUD activities companies, which contributed greatly to its In the following, we will explain the concept success. It achieved a common perception of of the IAUD’s activities for realizing the further universal design among its participants, and it expansion of UD. Looking at the membership list was this that provided the impetus for the of the IAUD, one can see that its members come 48 FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J., 41,1,(April 2005) K. Tsutatani: Introduction to International Association for Universal Design from a wide range of representative Japanese in- Directors, which conducts IAUD business under dustries, encompassing not only the electrical the direction of the Patron and President, the equipment, automobile, housing and IT equipment Council which approves business plans and manufacturing industries but also the distribu- budgets proposed by the Board of Directors and tion and service industries. The basis of its the seven committees, two of them the Theme activities is the promotion of UD from a broad and Study Committee and the Project Development integrated perspective under which all of these Committee, which promote IAUD projects under industries share information and participate in the direction of the Board of Directors. the achievement of UD and its evaluation through theme research, business development activities 6. Overview of IAUD activities and dissemination of information. The concept of In the following, we will look at the activi- UD will be stressed in all of this and major em- ties of the seven committees which promote the phasis placed on dialogues with the consumers, a business of the IAUD. Brief descriptions of the key element in developing UD, in order to enhance committees and their activities are given below. the activities towards its expansion and make 1) Theme Study Committee them highly effective. The Theme Study Committee consists of the Seminar Planning Working Group, Concept Study 5. Organizational structure of Working Group and Standardization Study Work- IAUD ing Group. Their major activity is holding study The organizational structure of the IAUD is meetings whose aim is the realization of “dia- shown in Figure 1. It consists of the Board of logues with consumers,” the foundation of the Patron Theme Study Committee ■Seminar planning WG President ■Concept Study WG ■Standardization Study WG Adviser of the Council Project Development Committee ■Living Space Project Council ■Mobile Space Project ■Working Environment Project ■UD Projects for Leisure Time Inspector Board of Directors Public Relations Committee ■Web Planning WG ■Annual Report Planning WG IAUD Award Planning Committee Secretariat Event Planning Committee ■Planning WG for the First Exhibition ■Planning WG for the Second International Conference International Relations Committee Information Accessibility Committee Figure 1 Organization of International Association for Universal Design. FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J., 41,1,(April