Per-Olof Hedvall
Professor|Professor
- Professional title: Professor
- Academic title: Professor
- Telephone: +46 (0)10-1726577
- Email: per-olof.hedvall@miun.se
- Location: Sundsvall
Per-Olof Hedvall works as Professor of Design at Mid Sweden University, Sweden. His research deals with accessibility, participation, and universal design, with a particular interest in the interplay between people and technology. Working closely with the disability movement, he focuses on people’s lived perspectives and how human and artefactual aspects of products, services, and environments can be designed to support people in fulfilling their needs, wishes, and dreams. Hedvall has a background in computer engineering and has a particular interest in people's empowerment and opportunities for participation in their lives.
Per-Olof Hedvall often bases his work on Cultural-Historical Activity Theory. In 2009, Hedvall defended his doctoral dissertation in Rehabilitation Engineering and Design, "The Activity Diamond – Modelling an Enhanced Accessibility", where he developed a model for planned, lived, and long-term aspects of accessibility, as a prerequisite for participation.
Research
Current research focus: Universal Design, Equity and Categorisation
For the past 10 years, I have mainly concentrated on trying to contribute to the development and emergence of universal design in Sweden and internationally. I am interested in how it is possible to create designs that do not discriminate against people and that do not lead to inequality and stigma.
My current research is about categorisation and how categorisation creates similarities and differences between people. The design of products and environments often places people in compartments such as "man", "woman", "person with a disability", "person without a disability", "children", "elderly", and so on. I think it is interesting how categorisation takes place and what stories it creates/enables.
There is a strong force in design, which can be used to open up opportunities, but also to close them. Sometimes exclusionary design takes place completely intentionally, as in the introduction of reclining benches on which it is impossible to sleep, but in most cases, exclusion takes place unintentionally. Therefore, it is important to actively work with knowledge and awareness of socially sustainable design that brings people together and enriches society.
On a more general level, I am interested in who may and may not exist in today's society and how it is possible to create conditions so that all people can participate in and contribute to society. The stories we tell about each other when designing influence the stories about a person you can be and become.
Teaching and tutoring
I teach at Mid Sweden University's programs in Industrial Design and Graphic Design. My teaching often deals with three themes:
* Design research, theory and methodology
* Design, norms, categorisation and human diversity
* Disability, disability, models, participation, assistive technology.
Other information
Supervision (doctoral students)
Fagerholm, Anna-Sara. (2024). Avfall för alla?: ett universell utformningsperspektiv på återvinningsmiljöer i Sverige. 2024 juni 19, LUND: Lunds Universitet/Lunds Tekniska Högskola. 60 p. (Main supervisor, licentiate thesis, compilation)
Erdtman, Emil. (2024). Universell utformning i praktiken: förståelse, genomförande och samskapande. 2024 feb. 20, Lund: Certec, Lund University. 150 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).
Müller, Lilian. (2023). Bridging the Gaps: Realising Human Diversity in the Built Environment through Universal Design. 2023 sep. 26, Lund: Certec, Lund University. 103 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).
Szymczak, Delphine. (2023).Tools in and out of sight: an analysis informed by Cultural-Historical Activity Theory of audio-haptic activities involving people with visual impairments supported by technology. 2023 mars 24, Lund, Sweden: Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University. 183 p. (Deputy supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).
Müller, Lilian. (2021). Vem bygger vi för? Om tillgänglighet och universell utformning i stadens rum. 2021 juni 4, Lund: Lund University. 78 p. (Main supervisor, licentiate thesis, compilation).
Erdtman, Emil. (2021). Mellan princip och praktik: Samtal om hur universell utformning förstås och praktiseras i Sverige. 2021, Lund: Lund University (Media-Tryck). 105 p. (Main supervisor, licentiate thesis, compilation).
Frennert, Susanne. (2016). Older People Meet Robots: Three Case Studies on the Domestication of Robots in Everyday Life. 2016 aug. 8, Lund: Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University. 220 p. (Deputy supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).
Larsen, Henrik Svarrer. (2015). Tangible participation - Engaging designs and design engagements in pedagogical praxes. 2015, Lund University (Media-Tryck). 235 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, monography).
Szymczak, Delphine. (2011). Designing guidance along audio-haptically augmented paths in a city environment. 2011, Lund, Sweden: MediaTryck Lund. 133 p. (Main supervisor, PhD dissertation, compilation).
Interview on Mid Sweden University's website
Whwn I was installed as a professor at Mittuniverisitetet in the fall of 2024, a short interview with me was published: Per‑Olof Hedvall – new professor of design.
Personal website
I also have a personal website where I write about things that are on my mind and share photos, images and other material. Read more at: https://www.peohedvall.com/.
Extra contact information
My Staff Profile on Lund University's Research Portal
My Profile on Google Scholar
My Research Profile on ORCID
My channel on YouTube
My Profile on LinkedIn
@peohedvall on Instagram
Publications
Articles in journals
Chapters in books
Conference papers
Conference proceedings (editor)
Doctoral theses, comprehensive summaries
Licentiate theses, monographs
Other
Reports
Articles in journals
Pettersson, L. , Johansson, S. , Demmelmaier, I. , von Koch, L. , Gulliksen, J. , Hedvall, P. , Gummesson, K. & Gustavsson, C. (2025). Accessibility of eHealth Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among People With and People Without Impairment : Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, vol. 11
Bram, S. , Burgén, J. , Dederichs, A. S. & Hedvall, P. (2025). No one left behind : A universal design analysis of ship evacuation. Applied Ergonomics, vol. 123
Rydeman, B. , Eklöf, L. , Egard, H. & Hedvall, P. (2025). Synergistical assistance - combining artefactual and human assistive resources to reach desired outcomes.. Disability and Rehabilitation,
Erdtman, E. , Müller, L. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Between consultation and partnership : participation styles in Swedish urban revitalization processes involving disabled people. Journal of Urban Design,
Wojahn, D. , Ericsson, S. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Disablised or Ablised? : Linguistic Categorisations of Dis/ability in Swedish Print Media Over Time. Disability Studies Quarterly, vol. 44: 1
Hedvall, P. & Ericsson, S. (2024). From Inclusive to Nonclusive Design : A Shift in Categorisation. Design for All, India, vol. 19: 6, pp. 10-29.
Sandström, I. , Ericsson, S. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Gendered Sustainability : Are Public Spaces Designed for Girls Good for Everyone? Examining Female Participation as a Strategy for Inclusive Public Spaces. Cities, vol. 149
Hedvall, P. & Ericsson, S. (2024). Guest Editorial: Difference – Sketching, Visualising and challenging Universal Design in Sweden. Design for All, India, vol. 19: 6, pp. 3-9.
Müller, L. , Erdtman, E. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Is the city planned and built for me? : Citizens’ experiences of inclusion, exclusion and (un)equal living conditions in the built environment. Journal of Accessibility and Design for All, vol. 14: 1, pp. 32-51.
Ericsson, S. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Situation, Non-Categorisation, and Variation : Conveying Nonclusion Through Text and Image. Design for All, India, vol. 19: 6, pp. 30-51.
Göransson, K. , Hedvall, P. , Hellström, J. & Becker, M. (2024). Teaching Universal Design – Key content and course design. Design for all Institue of India, vol. 19: 6, pp. 91-112.
Hedvall, P. & Ericsson, S. (2024). The Problem with "Inclusion"? : It Is Done to Someone by Someone. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol. 320, pp. 18-25.
Pettersson, C. , Baudin, K. & Hedvall, P. (2024). The struggle for access : a qualitative document study of how people using wheeled mobility devices experience exclusion and discrimination. Disability and Rehabilitation, vol. 19: 3, pp. 537-545.
Sahin-Haglund, S. , Turkmen, S. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Towards Equity and Universal Design in Pelvic Floor Care – Patient Experiences After Birth. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol. 320, pp. 125-132.
Grangaard, S. , Hedvall, P. & Lid, I. M. (2024). Universal Design and Accessibility as an Act or a State - A Comparison of Policies in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol. 320, pp. 2-9.
Magnusson, C. , Müller, L. , Sandström, I. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Universal design : visualising diversity, two low hanging fruits. Design for All, India, vol. 19: 6, pp. 113-129.
Fagerholm, A. , Göransson, K. , Thompson, L. M. & Hedvall, P. (2023). Activism online : Exploring how crises are communicated visually in activism campaigns. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 31: 4, pp. 1034-1043.
Johansson, S. , Hedvall, P. , Larsdotter, M. , Larsson, T. P. & Gustavsson, C. (2023). Co-designing with extreme users : a framework for user participation in design processes. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, vol. 25: 1, pp. 418-430.
Fagerholm, A. , Haller, H. , Warell, A. & Hedvall, P. (2023). What a Waste – A norm-critical design study on how waste is understood and managed. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, vol. 19
Erdtman, E. , Rassmus-Gröhn, K. & Hedvall, P. (2022). Let’s move beyond word battles and separatism : Strategies and concerns regarding Universal Design in Sweden. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, vol. 41: 9, pp. 15-29.
Müller, L. , Wojahn, D. , Sandström, I. & Hedvall, P. (2022). Planning for human diversity : design patterns of Universal Design. Nordic Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 34: 2, pp. 75-104.
Hedvall, P. , Price, M. , Keller, J. & Ericsson, S. (2022). Towards 3rd generation universal design : exploring nonclusive design. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol. 297, pp. 85-92.
Müller, L. , Ericsson, S. & Hedvall, P. (2022). Visions of a City for All : Resources, Choices and Factors Supporting and Impeding Universal Design in the Urban Development Process. The Journal of Public Space, vol. 7: 2, pp. 63-78.
Winberg, C. , Kylberg, M. , Pettersson, C. , Harnett, T. , Hedvall, P. , Mattsson, T. & Månsson Lexell, E. (2021). Feeling controlled or being in control? : Apps for self-management among older people with neurological disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, vol. 16: 6, pp. 603-608.
Egard, H. & Hedvall, P. (2021). "Tur att jag inte blev omprövad i år" : samtal om ett villkorat liv med personlig assistans. Nordisk välfärdsforskning | Nordic Welfare Research, vol. 6: 1
Erdtman, E. , Rassmus-Gröhn, K. & Hedvall, P. (2021). Universal Design as Guiding, Striving and Unifying : A Qualitative Study About how Universal Design is understood, practiced and realised in contemporary Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, vol. 23: 1, pp. 158-168.
Müller, L. , Ericsson, S. , Wojahn, D. & Hedvall, P. (2021). Young, Mobile, and Highly Educated Cyclists : How Urban Planning and Policy Dis/able Users. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, vol. 23: 1, pp. 124-135.
Ericsson, S. , Wojahn, D. , Sandström, I. & Hedvall, P. (2020). Language that Supports Sustainable Development : How to Write about People in Universal Design Policy. Sustainability, vol. 12: 22, pp. 1-20.
Szymczak, D. , Rassmus-Gröhn, K. , Hedvall, P. & Magnusson, C. (2019). Dynamic multimodal drawing in school : Exploring technology support of drawing skills development in children with visual impairments. Technology and Disability, vol. 31: 3, pp. 83-99.
Hedvall, P. & Rydeman, B. (2010). An activity systemic approach to augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, vol. 26: 4, pp. 230-241.
Chapters in books
Fagerholm, A. , Göransson, K. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Designforskningens oumbärlighet. In Globala utmaningar – lokala lösningar : Forskning för en hållbar samhällsutveckling i norra Sverige. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet. pp. 92-94.
Johansson, S. , Hedvall, P. , Gulliksen, J. , von Koch, L. & Gustavsson, C. (2024). Prerequisites for digital participation : the case of digital health technology and people with impairments. In The Routledge International Handbook of Disability and Global Health. Informa UK Limited. pp. 552-564.
Hedvall, P. (2022). Framväxten av universell utformning – en kulturomdaning. In Kunskap för framgångsrik inkludering. Lärandeforum UUA. pp. 8-15.
Hedvall, P. , Ståhl, A. & Iwarsson, S. (2022). Tillgänglighet, Användbarhet och Universell utformning. In Participation : Vad, När, Hur?. Studentlitteratur AB. pp. 151-182.
Hedvall, P. (2020). Universell utformning – Hur designar vi ett samhälle för alla?. In Med människan i fokus : En uppföljning av Politik för gestaltad livsmiljö 2020 och medskick inför framtida arbete. ArkDes. pp. 68-73.
Conference papers
Göransson, K. , Becker, M. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Teaching Universal Design_Course Design and Key Components. Paper presented at the Universal Design 2024: Shaping a Sustainable, Equitable and Resilient Future for All. The Seventh International Conference on Universal Design (UD2024), Oslo, Norway, 20-22 November 2024
Fagerholm, A. , Haller, H. , Warell, A. & Hedvall, P. (2024). Waste(d) Design – exploring recycling environments from a universal design perspective. Paper presented at the UD2024 - Internationell konferens om Universal Design, Oslo, Norway, November 20-22, 2024
Hedvall, P. , Johansson, S. & Ericsson, S. (2022). Moving Beyond Human Bodies on Display : Signs of a Shift in Categorisation. In DAI - Il Disegno per l’Accessibilità e l’Inclusione.. pp. 48--59.
Fagerholm, A. , Göransson, K. , Haller, H. & Hedvall, P. (2022). What a Waste – A norm-critical study on how waste is understood and managed through integrating perspectives. In Book of Abstracts – The 28th Annual Conference, International Sustainable Development Research Society “Sustainable Development and Courage. Culture, Art and Human Rights” 15-17 june 2022.. pp. 252--253.
Hedvall, P. , Wojahn, D. , Müller, L. & Ericsson, S. (2021). Categorisations Impeding and Supporting Universal Design. Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Universal Design, UD2021 ; Conference date: 09-06-2021 Through 11-06-2021
Ericsson, S. , Wojahn, D. , Müller, L. & Hedvall, P. (2021). The dis/ablement of bodies in semiotic landscapes – a citizen science approach. Paper presented at the LL12 The political economy of language and space/place ; Conference date: 01-09-2021 Through 03-09-2021
Hedvall, P. , Rydeman, B. , Granholm, S. & Andersson, M. (2018). Co-Constructing Universal Design in Citizen Science Workshops. In Transforming our World Through Design, Diversity and Education. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics). pp. 214--222.
Magnusson, C. , Hedvall, P. & Breidegard, B. (2018). Design for me?. In Computers Helping People with Special Needs. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)). pp. 93--99.
Hedvall, P. , McArthur, J. & Cranmer, S. (2018). Recognizing diversity within everyone’s lived experience : Strengthening the theoretical foundations of Universal Design. Paper presented at the Lancaster Disability Studies Conference ; Conference date: 11-09-2018 Through 13-09-2018
Magnusson, C. , Anastassova, M. , Paneels, S. , Rassmus-Gröhn, K. , Rydeman, B. , Randall, G. , Ortiz Fernandez, L. , Bouilland, S. & et al. (2018). Stroke and universal design. In Transforming our World Through Design, Diversity and Education. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics). pp. 854--861.
Rydeman, B. , Eftring, H. & Hedvall, P. (2018). Towards a More Inclusive University : Supporting Teachers Through Universal Design for Learning. In Transforming our World Through Design, Diversity and Education. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics). pp. 98--106.
Hedvall, P. (2009). Towards the Era of Mixed Reality : Accessibility Meets Three Waves of HCI. In USAB 2009, HCI and Usability for E-Inclusion, Proceedings.. pp. 264--278.
Rydeman, B. & Hedvall, P. (2008). Who is in Control? : AAC seen through the FACE tool. Paper presented at the ISAAC 2008, Montreal, Canada, 4/8 2008
Hedvall, P. (2008). Xings for Augmented Family Communication. Paper presented at the ISCAR 2008
Ferreira, J. & Hedvall, P. (2006). Computer games as life quality for disabled players. Paper presented at the ICCHP 2006
Conference proceedings (editor)
Caltenco, H. (ed.) , Hedvall, P. (ed.) , Larsson, A. (ed.) , Rassmus-Gröhn, K. (ed.) & Rydeman, B. (ed.) (2014). Universal Design 2014 : Three Days of Creativity and Diversity. Netherlands : IOS Press (Assistive Technology Research Series ).
Doctoral theses
Hedvall, P. (2009). The Activity Diamond - Modeling an Enhanced Accessibility. Dis. (Comprehensive summary) Lund University, 2009
Licentiate theses, monographs
Hedvall, P. (2007). Situerad design för alla : till improvisationens lov. Lic. Lunds universitet, 2007
Other
Hedvall, P. (2019). Universell utformning – ett diskussionsunderlag : SOU (Sveriges Offentliga Utredningar). (Statens Offentliga Utredningar : SOU).
Reports
Hedvall, P. (2017). Delaktighetsforskning och funktionshinder : Kartläggning av kunskapsläge och forskningsbehov med särskilt fokus på teknik- och designperspektiv. Myndigheten för Delaktighet