Knowledge Library

Explore our AI Assistant

Here you will find a growing universe of knowledge on Universal Design, social sustainability and accessibility. The Knowledge Library brings together research, articles, reports and cases that all contribute to the understanding of a society designed for everyone — regardless of body, ability or life circumstances.

Knowledge Inputs

Foto af Daura der smiler. Hun har en hvid trøje og en gul jakke på

Climate

Article

When climate disasters hit the vulnerable, accessibility must be part of the plan

Bevica Scholarship winner Daura van Vuuren explores how Universal Design can make climate action inclusive. Her global research highlights how people with disabilities must be part of climate plans to ensure no one is left behind.

Knowledge Inputs

Foto af Louise Bøttcher. Louise har briller, brunt hår og en lille top på.

Education

Article

Universal Design for Learning makes education more accessible and fruitful for all students

Through her Bevica Scholarship, Louise Bøttcher explored how Universal Design for Learning can make education more inclusive. Her visit to Stanford University showed how thoughtful teaching design benefits all students — not just those with disabilities.

Knowledge Inputs

Foto af Marcus Aminaka Wilmont med sort skjorte og sort hat

Design

Article

How can clothing become a positive influence? By including the user’s needs

Designer and Bevica fellow Marcus Aminaka Wilmont explores how Universal Design can make fashion more inclusive. By designing for real people — not standard sizes — he shows how clothing can adapt to diverse bodies and create beauty, comfort, and connection.

Knowledge Inputs

Concept

Podcast

Universal design, and... Visiting professor at the Royal Academy Jos Boys examines the concept of universal design

The architect, activist and journalist Jos Boys held a visiting professorship at the Royal Academy from 2022 to 2025. To mark this and reflect on the research of the past three years, Jos will host three podcasts of 45 minutes duration attended by researchers, students and other guests of the Royal Academy.

Knowledge Inputs

Concept

Podcast

Universelt design og arkitekturens sanselighed i ny podcast

Podcast med Camilla Ryhl om universelt design, arkitekturens sanselighed, og sammenhængen mellem arkitektonisk kvalitet og diversitet i funktionsevne.

Knowledge Inputs

Five children from different ethnic backgrounds play ball in a sports hall. One child uses a wheelchair and another child uses crutches. They laugh and actively move on the lacquered wooden floor, where colored strokes mark the path. A basketball hovers in the air between them, while a basketball basket is visible in the background. The image radiates joy, inclusion and community.

Pedagogy

Research project

Supporting Active Living for All Kids

FIIBL at SDU offers knowledge, tools and inspiration for the development and implementation of active interventions for children and young people with special needs in school and leisure.

Knowledge Inputs

Architecture

New book

Universal design in architecture - the Nordic example in practice

Based on her new book Universal Design in Architecture, Camilla shared experiences and insights from conversations with 10 Danish and Norwegian architects about their understanding of universal design and the sensuous qualities of architecture. It presents Nordic architecture examples and showe how sensory experiences can be implemented and enhanced through the use of universal design.

Knowledge Inputs

Digital technology

Lunch Bag Lecture

AI and Universal Design

This lecture explores how combining AI with universal design can foster inclusive technologies. Research cases highlight AI-driven tools that enhance participation and accessibility for people with special needs.

Knowledge Inputs

Concept

Tool

Introduction to Universal Design

Universal design is a relatively new concept in Denmark that deals with creating environments, products and services that can be used by everyone — regardless of ability or need. It is based on principles of accessibility, inclusion and flexibility, so that the design benefits as much as possible without the need for customization.

Theme Package

Concept

Human vision

How do we look at each other? 12 videos invite reflection on the role of the human mind in creating a more open and inclusive society.

Researcher

Education

Louise Bøttcher

Louise Bøttcher is Associate Professor of Neuropsychology at DPU. She is working on a research project entitled “Inclusion in higher education through the design of multiple study courses

Researcher

Architecture

Jos Boys

Jos Boys is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy.

Researcher

Design

Yanki Lee

Dr. Yanki Lee is a visiting professor in Universal Design at Design School Kolding.

Researcher

Architecture

Eva Gjessing

Eva Gjessing is an Architect MAA and PhD student at Aarhus University, where she explores how school architecture sets the framework for inclusive communities and lived life at school.

Researcher

Architecture

Carsten Hvid Nielsen

Carsten Hvid Nielsen researches urban spaces and how people use them. His postdoctoral project investigates how people with different functional abilities can gain better access to city spaces.

Researcher

Jura

Aysel Küçüksu

Aysel Küçüksu is Assistant Professor of Law and Artificial Intelligence at iCourts. She is the co-founder of the Public AI Database, Denmark's first database on the use of AI in the public sector.

Researcher

Pedagogy

Bjørg Kjaer

Bjørg Kjær is a cultural researcher specialising in ethnographic studies of day care centres and leisure homes. She deals with inclusive pedagogy, special pedagogy and pedagogical quality.

Researcher

Architecture

Christine Bjerke

Christine Bjerke is a PhD student at the Royal Academy, where she investigates our human vision in relation to teaching architecture and design over the past 270 years.

Researcher

Design

Zanitha Hamilton Månegaard

Zanitha Hamilton Månegaard is a PhD student at Design School Kolding and researches play among neurodivergent children.

Researcher

Health/Medicine

Thorben Peter Høj Simonsen

Thorben Peter Høj Simonsen is a senior researcher at VIVE — The National Research and Analysis Centre for Welfare. He is concerned with investigating the spatial organization of psychiatric practice.

Researcher

Health/Medicine

Marie Gorm Aabo

Marie Gorm Aabo is a PhD student at the Centre for Humanistic Health Research (CoRE). Her PhD deals with tinnitus, sound environment and sensory methods.

Researcher

Engineering

Kristoffer Negendahl

Kristoffer Negendahl is an associate professor at the Technical University of Denmark and affiliated with the Department of Construction and Mechanical Technology. Travel Grant winner 2023.

Researcher

Architecture

Ole B. Jensen

Ole B. Jensen is a professor at Aalborg University and affiliated with the Department of Architecture and Media Technology. Ole is the Bevica Scholarship Travel Grant winner 2023.

Researcher

Education

Akrimar Tongkaew

Akrimar Tongkaew is a PhD student at DTU Skylab. Akrimar's research interests include inclusive design, inclusive education and change management.

Researcher

Design

Senja Ruohonen

Senja is a PhD student at Aalborg University. In her PhD project, she investigates how people with impaired vision experience and use lighting in their everyday lives.

Researcher

Philosophy

Anthony Fernandez

Anthony Fernadez is Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Denmark and affiliated with the Research Unit for Movement, Culture and Society at the Department of Sport and Biomechanics.

Researcher

Digital technology

Valeria Borsotti

Valeria Borsotti is a postdoc at the University of Copenhagen. She is a socio-technical researcher with a mixed background in computer science (PhD) and anthropology (MS).

Researcher

Landscape Architecture

Ulrika K. Stigsdotter

Ulrika is a professor of landscape architecture with special assignments within Health Design at the University of Copenhagen. She is responsible for the Nature, Health and Design Laboratory.

Researcher

Sports/Movement

Thomas Skovgaard

Thomas is Head of Research for Active Living, Department of Sport and Biomechanics, SDU. Thomas has extensive experience from the university world and has worked in the NGO and consultancy industry.

Researcher

Architecture

Turid Borgestrand Øien

Turid Borgestrand Øien is a postdoc at Aalborg University, where she is part of the research group for universal design. She researches the relationship between humans and the built environment.

Researcher

Architecture

Stine Bekke-Hansen

Stine Bekke-Hansen is a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen. She researches the effect of nature on people with movement disabilities and the importance of accessibility for health.

Researcher

The labour market

Thomas Bredgaard

Thomas Bredgaard is Professor (PhD) in Labour Market Policy and Head of the Centre for Labour Market Research at Aalborg University (CARMA). Thomas is an affiliated member of the research network.

Researcher

Technology

Sofie Skoubo

Sofie Skoubo is a PhD student at Aarhus University. She is researching the use of telepresence robots to reduce school absenteeism among children and adolescents with neuromuscular diseases.

Researcher

Architecture

Roberta Cassi

Roberta Cassi is a postdoc at the Royal Academy. Her academic interest focuses on investigating the role of the built environment in human life and discovering new potentials for design.

Researcher

Art/Culture

Mia Høj Matthiasson

Mia Høj Mathiasson is assistant professor at the University of Southern Denmark and researches the role of libraries in sustainability, social inclusion and innovation.

Researcher

Social area

Olivia Dahl Nielsen

Olivia Dahl is post doc t at the University of Copenhagen. She does research in the fields of disability studies, disability discrimination, social interaction, and the sociology of everyday life.

Researcher

Architecture

Mikkel Hjort

Mikkel Hjort is a postdoc at the City of Copenhagen and the Bevica Scholarship Travel Grant winner 2023. Mikkel is an affiliated member of the research network.

Researcher

Architecture

Masashi Kajita

Masashi Kajita is Assistant Professor, PhD and Architect MAA. His research focuses on the relationship between body, material and space in architecture.

Researcher

Architecture

Marie Christoffersen Gramkow

Marie Christoffersen Gramkow is employed as project manager at Folkemødet with responsibility for improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

Researcher

Technology

John Paulin Hansen

John Paulin Hansen er professor ved DTU Management. Hans forskningsarbejde inkluderer gaze tracking, virtual reality og AI. John Paulin Hansen er affiliated medlem af forskernetværket.

Researcher

Social area

Leif Olsen

Leif Olsen is a senior researcher at VIVE — the National Research and Analysis Centre for Welfare. Leif is an affiliated member of the research network.

Researcher

Design

Dagny Valgeirsdóttir

Dagný Valgeirsdóttir is assistant professor at DTU. She works under the programme 'Technology Leaving No One Behind', where she engages engineering students in developing sustainable solutions.

Researcher

The labour market

Jannick Friis Christensen

Jannick Friis Christensen er Lead D&I Engagement Partner i Novo Nordisk og driver initiativer, der fremmer inklusion og trivsel. Jannick er affiliated medlem af forskernetværket.

Researcher

Media/Representation

Leif Hemming Pedersen

Leif Hemming Pedersen is a postdoc at Roskilde University, researching how alternative news media influence public debate and challenge mainstream journalism in the AlterUse project.

Researcher

Social area

Inge Storgaard Bonfils

Inge Storgaard Bonfils is a docent at the Department of Social Worker Training at Copenhagen University College. She is an affiliated member of the research network.

Researcher

Health/Medicine

Frederick Gybel Jensen

Frederik Gybel Jensen is an audiologist and PhD and works with aphasia, communicative accessibility and adaptation of digital health tools for people with language difficulties.

Researcher

Architecture

Anne Kathrine Frandsen

Anne Kathrine Frandsen is a senior researcher at Aalborg University. Among other things, she researches how to maintain the ambition to create universal design throughout the construction process.

Researcher

Architecture

Emil Ballegaard

Emil Ballegaard is an architect MAA and PhD student at the Royal Danish Academy. He researches digital user–architecture interactions to inform and improve the design of residential architecture.

Researcher

Digital technology

Barbara Nino Carreras

Barbara is a postdoc at the Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics at the University of Copenhagen. Her current research is part of the European research project NewWorkTech.

Researcher

Social area

Emil Falster

Emil Falster has done extensive research on children and young people with disabilities and their everyday lives and is now researching the Danish concept of disability.

Project