Why Invisible Accessibility Is a Big Deal
Accessibility isnt just adding ramps or braille signsits about crafting spaces that feel natural and effortless for everyone. The Faculté de laménagement at Université de Montréal is flipping the script on add?on solutions with its new student design competition. Dubbed invisible accessibility, the idea is to weave inclusive features so seamlessly into CEPSUMs fabric that no one sees them as accommodationstheyre just part of the experience.
Your Playground: Three CEPSUM Hotspots
Participants get to pick one of three everyday moments at the sports centre and reimagine them for universal delight: The Main EntranceHow can arrival be welcoming to all without obvious access paths?; Carabins StadiumWhat tweaks would turn every game into a fully shared thrill?; The PoolHow do you create an aquatic zone where every swimmer feels confident and safeno special gear required?
Rules of the Game: How It Works
This is a strictly student?only, anonymous contestand thats by design. Submissions are judged purely on creativity and feasibility by an eight?member panel of experts from architecture, graphic and interior design, landscape architecture, lighting, multimedia design, and beyond. With nine prizes totaling $31,500 (three winners per experience), theres real incentive to push the envelope. And because its anonymous, each idea gets a fair shakeno credentials, just ingenuity.
Ready, Set, Go!
If youre enrolled in a design?related program anywhere in the world, consider this your call to action. Sketch out your vision, hone your narrative, and submit over the summer of 2025. Exact entry details and submission guidelines are available on the Facultés website. Whether youre a graphic designer dreaming in 2D, a budding landscape architect with fresh takes on green spaces, or a lighting designer rethinking ambiance, theres room for your voice.
| Date/Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 5, 2025 | Official launch of the Together, Lets All Go to the Sports Center! competition |
| Summer 2025 | Submission window openstudents worldwide can enter anonymously |
| SummerFall 2025 | Proposals reviewed by an eight?member multidisciplinary jury |
| October 2025 | All submitted ideas showcased at the Facultys accessibility conference |