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20th to 22nd October, 2015

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Designing for Flow: Making Shared Spaces Welcoming and Accessible for Everyone

Creating spaces that feel welcoming and function smoothly for everyone using them – whether it's a community center, a shared workspace, a busy family home, or any 'pablice' or group-accessible area – requires thoughtful design. Beyond aesthetics, true functionality considers ease of movement, comfort, and the health of the environment. Often, simple solutions can significantly impact how people experience and interact within these shared spaces, removing small barriers that might hinder accessibility or enjoyment.

One common challenge, especially in areas bridging indoor and outdoor environments like patios, entrances, or common area doorways, is managing airflow and pest control effectively. We want fresh air to circulate, contributing to a healthier and more pleasant atmosphere, but we also need to prevent insects from entering, which can be a nuisance and a potential health concern. Furthermore, ensuring easy passage for individuals with varying mobility levels, parents with strollers, people carrying items, or even pets in residential settings, is crucial for true accessibility.

Traditional screen doors, while offering a barrier, can present obstacles. Handles can be difficult for some individuals to operate, doors can slam shut unexpectedly, and navigating them with full hands is often awkward. In a shared or 'pablice' context where diverse users are the norm, these minor inconveniences can become significant accessibility issues. The ideal solution should facilitate, not hinder, the natural flow of movement while still performing its core function.

This is where the simple technology of the magnetic screen door offers a compelling advantage for shared spaces. Its design inherently promotes ease of access. Comprised of mesh panels with a central magnetic seam, it allows hands-free entry and exit. A gentle push parts the screen, and the magnets automatically pull it closed afterwards, maintaining the insect barrier without requiring manual operation. This feature is invaluable in environments catering to a diverse public or community:

Enhanced Accessibility: Individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches, as well as parents pushing strollers or people carrying supplies, can pass through effortlessly.

Improved Traffic Flow: In busy areas, the self-closing mechanism prevents doors from being left ajar and speeds up movement compared to manually operated screens.

Pet-Friendly: In applicable settings (like shared housing or community gardens), pets can move freely without needing human assistance.

Beyond accessibility, the environmental benefits are significant for shared health and comfort. A quality magnetic mesh screen door provides continuous protection against flying insects while allowing constant passive ventilation. This improves air quality, reduces reliance on air conditioning, and creates a more pleasant atmosphere for everyone – crucial factors in maintaining welcoming 'pablice' environments. When selecting a screen for such applications, it's important to consider durability and effectiveness. It might be wise to investigate these features closely, looking for robust mesh and strong, reliable magnets that can withstand frequent use.

Choosing the best magnetic screen door for a shared or high-traffic area involves looking beyond basic residential models. Consider options marketed as heavy-duty, which often feature reinforced seams, more powerful magnets, and tougher mesh material designed to handle increased wear and tear. Proper measurement and ensuring a snug fit are also critical to prevent gaps where insects could enter.

Another advantage, particularly relevant for community organizations or shared housing managers, is the typically straightforward magnetic screen door installation. Many models use adhesive strips, requiring no specialized tools or permanent alterations to door frames – a significant benefit when dealing with varied building structures or rental agreements. Ease of installation means the benefits can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively. Anyone tasked with improving such a space can easily find out more about installation techniques suitable for different frame types.

In conclusion, enhancing the functionality and comfort of shared, 'pablice' environments often lies in addressing the small details that impact daily experience. Implementing solutions like high-quality magnetic screen doors can remove subtle barriers, improve accessibility for all users, promote healthier air circulation, and control pests effectively. It’s a practical, often inexpensive step towards creating spaces that are not just accessible, but truly welcoming and comfortable for the diverse individuals who use them, fostering a better sense of community and well-being through thoughtful, user-centered design.

Meet the Speakers

Simon Collins

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things...

Stephanie Troeth

Stephie is a user experience researcher and designer. In over 15 years of working on the web, she has worn many hats, including a product lead for a tech startup in publishing...

Harry Roberts

Harry is a freelance designer, developer, writer, speaker and front-end architect from the UK, previously working as Senior UI Developer for Sky. He Tweets at...

Geri Coady

Harry is a freelance designer, developer, writer, speaker and front-end architect from the UK, previously working as Senior UI Developer for Sky. He Tweets at...

Andy Budd

Harry is a freelance designer, developer, writer, speaker and front-end architect from the UK, previously working as Senior UI Developer for Sky. He Tweets at...

Christian Lauke

Harry is a freelance designer, developer, writer, speaker and front-end architect from the UK, previously working as Senior UI Developer for Sky. He Tweets at...

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Early Bird Ticket

$399

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Entry pass for each workshop

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Event Schedule

10am to 10:30am

THE DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO BEING ESSENTIAL

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

10:45am to 11:30am

MODULAR DESIGN AT WORK

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

12:00pm to 01:30pm

AN INTRODUCTION TO TOUCH AND POINTER EVENTS

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

02:00pm to 03.30pm

WEB FONTS PERFORMANCE

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

10am to 10:30am

MAKING DOG FOOD PART OF A BALANCED DIET

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

10:45am to 11:30am

HANDS-ON WEB AUDIO

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

12:00pm to 01:30pm

CONVERSION RATE OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES IN ECOMMERCE

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

02:00pm to 03.30pm

PAPER PROTOTYPING APPLICATIONS

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

10am to 10:30am

THE DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO BEING ESSENTIAL

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

10:45am to 11:30am

THE DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO BEING ESSENTIAL

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

12:00pm to 01:30pm

THE DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO BEING ESSENTIAL

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.

02:00pm to 03.30pm

THE DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO BEING ESSENTIAL

Simon is designer and partner at Fictivekin and has worked in a variety of situations for bands, record labels, governments, polar explorers, and most other things.