Enhancing Universal Design Through Co-Design: Realising the Potential of Disability Lived Experience

Ensuring public buildings meet the needs of diverse users has increased interest in co-design, a process in which people without formal design training actively participate in design and decision-making [1]. Universal design provides principles for creating environments usable by all and advocates for the involvement of people with disability in their application [2, 3]. However, limited evidence exists on how co-design is applied in the context of universal design and how participatory processes are experienced by those involved, particularly people with disability. To advance conceptual and practical understanding on this topic, a collective case study research project comprising three qualitative studies was conducted in Australia [4-6]. Workshops and interviews with people with disability, design professionals, and health professionals explored how co-design and universal design are enacted in public building projects, outcomes achieved, and factors influencing participation. The research examined the what, who, when, where, and why of participation, identifying mechanisms that enable or constrain co-design practice. Five integrative themes were developed: (1) Redistributing expertise: Valuing lived experience as design knowledge; (2) Broadening participation: From tokenism to interprofessional collaboration; (3) Temporal justice: Embedding co-design across stages; (4) Contextual boundaries: Where co-design happens and where it does not; and (5) Transformative intent: Why co-design matters for design quality and social justice. Overall findings indicate that co-design can improve accessibility and usability while building capacity among individuals, professionals, and communities. The research proposes a reciprocal relationship between co-design and universal design, whereby each can strengthen application of the other. It highlights the importance of iterative collaboration, accessible methodologies, and critical reflection on power dynamics. Co-design is positioned as an interprofessional practice strengthened by the expertise of people with disability, design professionals, and inclusion-focused disciplines, such as occupational therapy. The findings provide practical and conceptual guidance for embedding meaningful participation of people with disability in the design of public buildings.