This is a comprehensive, non-fiction reference for interior designers, architects, furniture designers, builders, industrial designers, and design students. It examines anthropometrics—the study of human body measurements—and how those measurements shape the fit between people and interior spaces. Written to support professional practice, the tone is practical, precise, and encouraging, helping readers design spaces that accommodate real users with confidence and care.
The material is organized in three accessible parts: a theory and application section that introduces the fundamentals of anthropometrics and addresses the needs of physically disabled and elderly users; easy-to-read, illustrated tables showing body sizes by age and percentile, plus data on joint motion and children's dimensions; and hundreds of dimensioned drawings that depict the optimal relationships between user and space across residential, commercial, recreational, and institutional settings. Metric conversions are included throughout to support international collaboration. An Epilogue invites designers, builders, and manufacturers to pursue truly adjustable, human-centered design rather than relying on an elusive “average person.”
Reading this resource feels like carrying a robust planning toolkit. The clear charts, plan and section drawings, and scenario-based illustrations help you move from data to decisions—selecting counter heights, planning clearances, and ensuring comfortable reach zones with real-world flexibility. The material translates government and research data into practical guidelines you can apply at the drawing board and in conversations with clients and tradespeople.
- Theory and practical foundations of anthropometrics with a focus on accessibility for physically disabled and elderly users
- Comprehensive, illustrated tables of body sizes by age and percentile, plus joint motion data and children's dimensions
- Hundreds of dimensioned drawings showing user-space relationships in residential, commercial, recreational, and institutional settings
- Metric conversions included for international usability
- Epiloque encouraging adjustable, human-centered design over assumptions about an “average” user
- Tools for space planning, ergonomics, and user-centric design decisions
After finishing, readers gain a practical framework for designing interior environments that fit real bodies, boosting confidence in accessibility, comfort, and usability. It leaves professionals with a lasting sense of clarity and capability to create inclusive, well-proportioned spaces.
