To illustrate the impact that universal design can have in engineering, I would like to highlight an example that we have likely all experienced before: the automatic door. The first modern automatic doors came as a result of an issue some people experienced opening doors in a windy area in the United States. The door was designed to fix this issue, so people would no longer have to try and open swinging doors on windy days. However, as we have learned, an improvement for some is an improvement for all. (Door Services Corporation, 2023)

Automatic doors, while designed for a specific cause and group of people, actually benefit everyone. The design of the doors allows someone carrying groceries or moving equipment, for example, to still go through the door without a problem. This is an example of how universal design in engineering provides benefits beyond the intended user, and is something that can be used to inspire learning design. 

The learning environment is a lot like the environment of an automatic door in that there are barriers that exist and solutions to those barriers. For example, researchers found that adding captions, while having large benefits for certain groups, was universally beneficial to all learners (Gernsbacher, 2015). This example shows the true importance and value of universal design, which is that everyone benefits. Using the screen captions from the research as an example, sure, some people benefit more, such as those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, however, the research showed that all groups benefited from this design change, just like the automatic door.

Learning design inspired by the automatic door should feature the same features of universal design that the automatic door has. Specifically, the automatic door provides users with ease of access, flexibility, and inclusivity. The automatic door simply opens, without requiring any effort other than approaching. It provides flexible use in that it can be used in multiple contexts (hands full or mobility needs, for example). And it is inclusive, as it simply performs the same action for all that approach it, it doesn’t single anyone out, it performs the same for all. Learning design inspired by automatic doors should follow suit. Make the learning content an ease of access so that educational materials are presented without barriers. Have flexibility in learning design so that learners are able to learn and engage with material in multiple ways that best fit their needs. Provide accessibility in learning so that people don’t feel singled out, like the captions example from above.

Automatic doors are a useful tool that has a great universal design, and while they may not appear to be related to learning design, the universal design in which they are made has direct parallels to how an educator could make learning more universal.

References

Door Services Corporation. (2023, March 9). Step back in time to learn about the history of automatic doors. Door Services Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://doorservicescorporation.com/dc/resources/blogs/2023-march/step-back-in-time-to-learn-about-the-history-of-automatic-doors

Gernsbacher, M. A. (2015). Video captions benefit everyone. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2(1), 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732215602130