Yorktowne Cabinets

Yorktowne Cabinets has evolved an accessible product line over a long period of time. This evolution was marked by four phases. Phase One was driven by a "get the job done mentality." In general, the company produced accessible cabinets to meet the mandate for a percentage of accessible dwelling units in government funded projects. These cabinets were initially produced as special items for those jobs. Eventually, the company standardized the toe kick and base cabinet designs. This ushered in the second phase where accessible cabinets were offered as part of the product line but not marketed. By the late 1980’s, Yorktowne was offering accessible cabinets in selected low end lines. These were available only in a limited number of sizes. Existing parts were used wherever possible. Several non-standard parts were added to provide the accessibility features including special front frames, toe kicks, end panels and interior components. In the 1990’s the company began to see growth potential in this line. The third phase began when the company sought a market niche in this field. There was more accessible housing being constructed and their customers were making requests for more availability in different styles. In response to the social changes described above, Yorktowne has now embarked on the fourth phase, a universal design approach. They now see accessible cabinetry as more than just a response to regulations.

The Yorktowne "Universal Access Cabinetry" concept is available in all product series and most styles. It comes in all woods and in selected laminates. The components needed for accessibility focus on the base cabinets and include:

base cabinets with built in trays,

base cabinets with cutting boards,

drawer bases,

revolving corner bases,

sink fronts,

pantry (tall) cabinets with sliding trays,

oven cabinets,

valences and fillers.

In addition, these components can be combined with a range of standard wall cabinet types to address different needs like tambour cabinets, open shelves and bookcase units. They can also be combined with an assortment of accessories and decorative trims. To market the universal access approach, the company has redesigned their product literature and specification book and developed a publicity campaign around the concept (see Fig. 11). A key feature of Yorktowne’s philosophy is to offer the universal access products at standard prices but the accessible base cabinets do cost about 20% more than the standard cabinet prices of the same lines.

General Electric Appliances

General Electric Appliances does not make cabinets but the company takes a "systems approach" to design. They recognize that appliances are only part of the total kitchen. In marketing their products to homebuilders, their strategy is to educate builders on a total concept and how their products fit into it. GE recently unveiled a universal design approach to kitchen design they call "Real Life Design." In developing this campaign, they considered the name carefully. The Real Life Design brochure explains:

Some people call it Universal Design. Others call it Lifespan Design. We think a better, more accurate description is Real Life Design by GE. Real Life Design is simply good design. It can be appreciated by everybody because it makes so much sense to everybody’s life. It takes into account that most people don’t fit the stereotypical norm. Baby boomers in huge numbers are finding out that they aren’t as spry or sure-sighted as they used to be. Along with the usual problems faced by an aging population, Real Life Design also acknowledges a wide range of physical and mental abilities impairments. It even acknowledges that a great many of our most worthy citizens are children!

(GE Appliances, 1995)

The emphasis on real life removes any stigma associated with "design for the handicapped." The decision to use the universal design approach was based on economics. Through a careful study of demographics, GE discovered that the largest growth in household formation is among people between the ages of 45 to 65 and over 75. In addition, the number of households with two workers, latch key children and multiple generations is increasing. Surveys of people over 65 demonstrate that most want to remain in their own homes. These trends mean that usability for people with a wide range of abilities will be an important aspect of consumer decision making.

GE decided to take a pro-active approach rather than ignoring the developing market and waiting until competitors respond first. Their strategy is to link "intelligent design" to "smart choices" by consumers. In this way, builders can be more responsive to consumer needs. As the center piece of their campaign, GE designed and built a demonstration kitchen that was exhibited at the National Association of Home Builders’ 1995 Convention.

The kitchen was designed by Mary Jo Peterson and included many cabinetry products that exemplify universal design including several discussed above (see Figs. 12-13). Some of the features are:

Automated sink with contrasting color faucet and retractable nozzle.

Rolling cart that can be positioned to assist in different tasks like unloading a dishwasher.

Roll out shelves to reach small items often lost at the rear of cabinets.

Door mounted step stool to reach items on upper cabinets.

Counter with a raised insert in a contrasting color to both contain spills and help people with poor vision identify the edge of the counter.

Counters at multiple heights to support specific tasks, including heights above 36 in.

Areas that can be adapted for seated work.

Space planning for wheelchair clearances.

The Real Life Design kitchen demonstrates the interrelationship of cabinet design and appliances. For example, Fig. 13 demonstrates how a retractable surface under an oven can assist in loading and unloading at a dangerous location. "Spacesaver" appliances can make use of space that is often out of reach for many people. A dishwasher can be made more usable by raising it off the floor. The kick space can then be carried through for adjacent cabinets, improving wheelchair access. The appliances used in the kitchen emphasize convenience and built in intelligence. For example, the microwave oven includes touch controls, sensor cooking, automatic completion reminder and word prompt display. As a complete kitchen, the theme of convenience and usability for everyone is reinforced by every feature including the appliances, the space design, the appearance and the cabinetry.

GE recognizes that implementation of the Real Life Design concept must go further than constructing and exhibiting a model kitchen. The kitchen will travel to trade shows but they have also produced a book about it, a video and alternative media for people with visual impairments. These media are educational tools that can be used by their sales force, professional designers, contractors and consumers themselves. Perhaps more significant, however, is that the company has developed a consumer information system that is integrated with the new campaign. In the past, when a consumer called the GE "Answer Center" toll free number and asked for information on appliances that were usable for people with disabilities, the response would be something like "Sorry, we don’t have anything for the handicapped." Now, the Answer Center staff is trained to ask more questions, identify exactly what the consumer needs and identify products that might be helpful. In turn, the results of this dialogue will become part of a database that the company can "feed forward" into product development efforts.

The Real Life Design concept was not created simply as a public relations effort. GE realized that accessibility features for people with disabilities are usually convenience features for everyone else. These features are usually found on the more profitable appliance lines because the pricing of the lowest cost basic lines is highly competitive. Thus, by promoting universal design, GE expects to reap a return through increased profit margins on the appliances they sell. They believe that the consumer is willing to pay for convenience features if builders and designers can communicate their "real life" value.