Knowledge Library

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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

Design

The Playbook for Universal Design

DTU Skylab has prepared a Playbook for Universal Design with the aim of inspiring the development of inclusive solutions. Each map contains useful information about different functional abilities and exemplifies these as both permanent and temporary. In this way, all functional abilities can be considered in the design process and the developer can be sure that they choose the most suitable

Knowledge Inputs

Architecture

Podcast

Universal Design in nature

Listen to the podcast Bygtropolis and learn how simple design choices and good frameworks can create community and access to leisure — for everyone.

Knowledge Inputs

Photo of Barbara Nino Carreras in a red shirt in front of a wooden wall

Digital technology

PhD project

Digital Denmark can be a challenge for people with disabilities

Barbara Nino Carreras examines how digital public services exclude people with disabilities. Her field study on libraries shows that there is a need for better accessibility, support and ethical considerations in informal digital help.

Knowledge Inputs

Concept

Video

Universal Design and the UN Global Goals

Jens Wandel, Head of the United Nations Association and Camilla Ryhl, Research Director at the Bevica Foundation focus on how universal design can contribute to meeting the UN's global goals and the Leave No One Behind agenda by removing barriers and promoting inclusion.

The thesis elucidates how children with physical disabilities experience barriers in everyday life and how these affect their agents, relationships and psychoemotional well-being. The focus is on discrimination, guilt and shame in relation to adults and peers.

Knowledge Inputs

Social area

What about the quality of life and health of people with disabilities?

The article presents results from the SHILD study showing lower quality of life, more loneliness, poorer sleep and more pain among people with disabilities.

Knowledge Inputs

Concept

Inspiration guide to universal design

In collaboration with the Bevica Foundation, Statens Kunstfond has prepared an inspiration guide for universal design. The aim of the guide is to inspire designers and artisans to develop equal and universal design solutions for the benefit of all.

Knowledge Inputs

Health/Medicine

Article

The right lighting can contribute to quality of life among people with impaired vision

This article explores how individually tailored lighting can enhance the quality of life for people with visual impairments. The project “Better light, better life” highlights new rehabilitation methods based on home environments and personal needs.

Knowledge Inputs

Interdisciplinary research

Article

Researcher and entrepreneur: We need to include the lives and experience of users into design

Kristian Moltke Martiny works across disciplines with universal design and user involvement in art, architecture, and health—creating inclusive solutions shaped by lived experience.

Theme Package

Concept

View of being human

How do we look at each other? 12 videos invite reflection on how our view of being human plays a role in creating a more open and inclusive society.

Researcher

Education

Sine Lysdahl Jensen

Sine is a PhD student at DPU at Aarhus University, where she researches the inclusion of students with mental disorders.

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