Universal Shelving System

The principle of universal design dictates that any given design should be accessible to people of all ages and abilities.  Design of a shelving system that would appeal to a universal aesthetic. The system depending on material selection and color should fit into a wide range of applications.  The system should be as at home in the home as in the office.



Repeating interlocking segments of a lightweight plastic. Cutaways provide easy grip while reducing weight.


A full scale mock up was used to determine if a pin system would work.  The pins were far too short and difficult to remove.  Splitting in the bending ply indicated some of the stresses exerted during assembly and use.  In the intended material of plastic, the splitting factor would be alleviated by the flexibility of ABS.  A more effective joinery system was needed.  I devised a mortis and tenon of plastic and aluminum.  Aluminum tenons would be more structural and easier to remove and replace. 


The most effective way to assemble this system is in pairs.  Then assemble those pairs to create endless shelving possibilities.

Images below: Initial design exploration which was ultimately abandoned for the design above. 3D models were created in AutoCad and rendered in Rhino