About the Symbol
I designed the International Accessibility Symbol in 1994.
While a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati, I had been searching for a thesis subject that would make a positive impact on society. A professor shared an article by Paul Arthur calling for the redesign of the “handicap” symbol (wheelchair disability symbol). As part of the research and design process, I applied for, and received, a research grant funded through the SEGD (Society for Environmental Graphic Design). The society also gave me access to wonderful mentors including Robert Probst and Lance Wyman.
San Antonio was the first American city to formally adopt the new access symbol, and it has since inspired and been been used in sign programs by designers around the world. In addition, many leading public institutions and corporations now use versions of the access symbol including New York Transport, Moma, Delta, Walmart, Williams College, and REI.
The wheelchair symbol evolution was featured on NPR, Wall St. Journal, and numerous design and disability focused publications. Many kind people have sent me the new symbol in use from far and wide, including Canada, Holland, Korea and my home country, Ireland.
I placed the symbol in the public domain, for use in wayfinding applications.
Symbols and language
Language evolves, but can also hold onto symbolic labels. The name handicapped refers to the act of begging, meaning cap in hand.
In designing this symbol I tried to be sensitive to both the message and the audience. Both in word and image I sought to move away from the label “Handicapped,” and disabled. With the new symbol for accessibility, a person is no longer imprisoned by the chair – the chair is merely the vehicle with which a person gains access.
My dad grew up in Dublin around the corner from Christy Brown, who wrote My Left Foot. His story has always inspired me. He fought to be seen for his artistic and intellectual abilities, and not to be defined by his physical disabilities. I saw this as an opportunity for design to redefine how people look at each other and at the world.
Design the new access symbol
Process sketches
As an athlete in Dublin, I raced side by side with wheelchair athletes. I sought to capture the spirit and independence of these athletes in the new symbol. The activity and movement are suggested with body positioning–the angle of the torso, and the “pushing position” of the arm. The goal is to portray an active, independent person, in sharp contrast to the former symbol which has been described as dependent, rigid and helpless.
Future Direction
The open-door symbol answers a call for a symbol of universal access – a symbol, for a time when environments will be barrier-free, and our focus moves from individual disability, to access for all.
Special thanks
Advisory committee:
Society for Environmental Graphic
DesignAdvisory committee:
Robert Probst, University of Cincinnati
Lance Wyman, Lance Wyman Design
Roger Whitehouse, Whitehouse and Company
and to Paula Reese, Chris Calori and David VanDenEden
for their advocacy.
BOOKS
Signage and Wayfinding Design
by Chris Calori www.cvedesign.com
Recycling & Redesigning Logos”
by Michael Hodgson www.phdla.com/