Evaluating inclusive design within a zoological street furniture framework

Inclusive design caters for the needs and aspirations of as many end users as possible, regardless of their age or ability, positively influencing product design and the built environment, and thus society as a whole. By conducting an inclusive design analysis, with reference to zoological street furniture, thesis content evaluates its effectiveness as an analytical tool, contributing to a heightened understanding of the topic to assist older and disabled people. With zoological gardens functioning as a societal microcosm, findings hold broad implications relating to the application of inclusivity ideals outside of a zoology framework. Research has been underpinned by a constructivist epistemology and interpretivist theoretical perspective. Case study research has been employed as the thesis research methodology, incorporating photography, interviews, and experiments, as convergent research methods. Photography has been used to document zoological street furniture, interviews have provided insights from subject experts, and experiments have gathered feedback from zoological garden visitors. Data collection took place at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, Chester Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, and Belfast Zoo. Findings have shown that when general guidance for accessible street furniture provision is applied to zoological street furniture, nuanced environmental factors influence the relevance and assertion of inclusive design. This suggests that each inclusive design analysis is context dependant and that contextually aware reinterpretation of access guidance is required to form effective and accessible design solutions. Thesis content explains the unique nature of zoological street furniture accessibility in the United Kingdom to underline this intellectual position.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral (Level 8)

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Richards, MDW

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1392290

Author Identifier

0000-0001-8799-325X

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1392290