FAQs on UD

When I talk to people about Universal Design… the questions I have encountered and the answers I had for them, sample a few:
Q: It is Idealist
A: It is good to be idealist in inception to achieve a solution which is close to it.
Q: Will it work in India
A: Everything works in India
Q: You cannot bring any change in this country
A: UD is about bringing Incremental Change
Q: Is UD for disabled people
A: UD is about inclusion and harnessing assistive technology for all
Q: Isn’t UD fundamental to design thinking and practice
A: Yes UD is fundamental design process which business needs to align with because design most often is driven by popular needs and audience.
Q: Ok what is it then
A: It’s a Practice
Q: We (India) are condemned to be Universal (!)
A: Let there be the syrup bottle cap that is easy to open
Q: People are indifferent, undisciplined
A: Design to Discipline will be an attribute of UD
Q: It cannot be applied to all products
A: Maybe, but 50% of users are being missed out while conceiving most products, the older, women, children and the disabled.
Q: How does Business benefit from UD
A: From meaningful differentiators and value to customers