Patricia Moore
designer
Patricia Moore
Patricia Moore is one of the founders of Universal Design. Moore is a Fellow of the Industrial Designers Society of America and in 2016 was named one of The Most Notable American Industrial Designers in the history of the field. ID Magazine selected Moore as one of The 40 Most Socially Conscious Designers in the world. In 2012 she was inducted into The Rochester Institute of Technology’s “INNOVATORS Hall of Fame” and named a Doctor of Fine Arts by Syracuse University for serving as a “guiding force for a more humane and livable world, blazing a path for inclusiveness, as a true leader in the movement of Universal Design.” Hasselt University in Belgium awarded Moore a PhD in May 2019 for her efforts towards “Inclusion and Excellence.” Moore is the 2019 Recipient of The National Design Award, as “Design Mind” and the 2020 Center for Health Design’s Changemaker Award.
May I share my Father’s favorite tale about me as a child?
My Daddy was holding my hand, as we waited to be served in the butcher shop. I was a toddler at the time, perhaps three years of age. As was typical, I was chattering away, asking my father why the butcher placed the chicken next to the lamb, and wouldn’t it be better if the hot dogs were located at the top of the cabinet, where they would be easier to reach.
Moore during her Empathetic Elder Experience (1979-1982).
“My Disdain For Discriminating Design”
Daddy responded to my “why not” questions as each was raised. Our exchange was interrupted by a woman standing behind us: “Is she talking???” she asked in what my father described as amazement. He assured her that yes, I was “talking” as the astonished woman proclaimed, “But she is a baby!”
My Father loved recalling that day, noting that as his firstborn, he and my mother didn’t know that there was anything unusual about my curiosity and that instead of simply asking “Why?” as children are known to do, I always asked, “Why not?”
That question has defined my half-century as a designer and I hope it always will.
My parents didn’t see anything unusual about my curiosity. Instead of simply asking “why?” as children are known to do, I always asked, “why not?”