I'DGO

Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors

The I’DGO project aims to identify ways of ensuring the outdoor environment is designed inclusively, to improve the quality of life for older people. In focusing on the changing needs of older people, the consortium also addresses issues that are relevant to disabled people.

The project involves several complementary research strands which focus on different aspects of the environment: landscape, urban form and detailed design. The outputs will provide a holistic understanding of quality of life issues and stakeholder requirements in relation to designing, managing and using the outdoor environment.

The Research Challenge

The relationship between older people and their environment is increasingly recognised as important for quality of life. Very little research has addressed engagement with the outdoor environment for older people. Designers, planners and developers are hampered by a lack of support to make good design decisions in order to improve accessibility of complex and varied outdoor environments

Key Project Outputs

• A review of the guidance on inclusive design of outdoor environments.
• Quality of life criteria for older people in relation to outdoor environments.
• Methods and tools for measuring characteristics of outdoor environments and users’ perceptions of aids and barriers to accessing, using and enjoying them.
• Appropriate, effective guidance for developers, designers and planners on the design of outdoor environments to enhance older people’s quality of life.
• Information and guidance for community groups and residents.

Who Will Benefit?

• All users of outdoor environments – inclusive design benefits everyone.
• Planners, designers, managers, developers and landowners of open space in the built environment, housing associations, community and residents’ associations.
• Organisations and groups representing the interests of older people and disabled people.
• Academics and other researchers studying the built and natural environment.

Dissemination Strategy

• A web site, including an on-line discussion forum.
• Papers in academic and professional journals.
• Collaborators consulted throughout to ensure the output is relevant and useful, e.g. production of a guide for community groups involved in planning projects.
• A findings summary sent to user groups.
• A report outlining guidance and recommendations for designers and providers of outdoor environments, including planners, highways authorities, urban designers, landscape architects, access officers, and street furniture manufacturers.
• Networks to maximise dissemination at every stage.

Along with the Sensory Trust, the organisations which are involved in the project are OPENspace (the research centre for Inclusive Access to Outdoor Environments, at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot Watt Uni), SURFACE (Salford University Research Focus on Accessible Environments, University of Salford), OCSD (Oxford Centre for Sustainable Development, Oxford Brookes University), RICAbility (the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs), the Housing Corporation and Dementia Voice.

See the I'DGO project web site for more information