Press Releases
Made for everyone
Universal design (UD) involves designing products and spaces to make them accessible to all people – whatever their age, gender, physical abilities or indivdual health needs. After following this approach for decades, TOTO recently established their own Universal Design Studio. Here, designers develop solutions based on real-life situations that go far beyond technical standards. The following examples show how this new standard is impacting everyday life in our diverse society –along with the role consistent user guidance plays in designing modern sanitary facilities.
TOTO thinks about people in every step of their design process. Experts in design, architecture, technology, product development and anthropometry – the study of the measurements of the human body – work closely together to develop products and spaces that are as accessible and user friendly for as many people as possible. Rather than relying on assumptions, these designers make decisions based on tests involving users with a wide range of needs. They ensure that the orientation, operating logic, movement patterns and safety aspects are all consistent. This approach ensures that that products and room designs work in everyday situations – in private bathrooms as well as high-traffic public areas.
Everyone’s needs in mind
TOTO has been developing bathroom solutions especially focused on the needs of people with disabilities since the 1960s. This wealth of experience spanning decades shapes today’s work, along with the founder’s guiding principle envisioning friendliness and respect as the starting point of every innovation. TOTO uses this as the basis to analyse the specific needs of different audiences – including the elderly, parents with small children, people with various gender identities, those with disabilities and stoma patients, to name a few – and translates these into design recommendations. “Universal design isn’t a niche topic. It’s a key aspect of design in our day and age. And the bathroom is a space in which excellent design makes all the difference when it comes to comfort, independence and dignity – whether in private or public spaces,” explains Matthias Kortenhorn, Sales Director Northwest Germany & Senior Sales Manager at TOTO Europe. The consistent application of universal design is becoming increasingly relevant in societies shaped by demographic changes and longer life expectancies – in both Japan and Germany.
Tokyo Toilet Project – public toilets as urban icons
From 2020 to 2024, the Tokyo Toilet Project reinterpreted the idea of the public toilet in the city’s Shibuya neighbourhood. The initiative, in which 16 renowned international architects expertly designed and installed public toilets at 17 different locations, has since gained international recognition. Names involved in the project include Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito and Shigeru Ban, each of whom developed unique concepts that bring stunning architecture to functional infrastructure.
TOTO supported the Nippon Foundation’s initiative as a consultant and supplier of the sanitary facilities, contributing their universal design expertise. The goal was to make public toilets more hygienic and fundamentally more attractive, transforming them into spaces in which people feel safe and comfortable. Each toilet is individually outfitted and has its own distinctive architecture – an interplay of functionality, guidance and an understanding of universal design fully aligned with people’s real needs.
Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at EXPO 2025 – tomorrow’s toilet
The Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at EXPO 2025 raised awareness for holistic health. Visitors had the opportunity to explore a variety of technologies and concepts that connect nutrition to the body and spirit while integrating personal health data.
This overarching concept also included accessible sanitary facilities designed and provided by TOTO as an Official Partner to EXPO 2025. TOTO worked closely with 22 “troubleshooters”, people with a variety of different disabilities who contributed their experiences to improve public toilets for everyone. The result was the toilet of the future – one that goes beyond functionality to be socially inclusive, respectful and welcoming of all users.
Miyajima Omotenashi Toilet – accessible hospitality
The Miyajima Omotenashi Toilet is located just a few steps from the renowned Itsukushima Shrine on the Japanese island of Miyajima. The publicly accessible sanitary facility effortlessly combines comfort, ease of use and aesthetics. Spacious areas allow people with wheelchairs and their companions plenty of room while clearly structured, easy-to-understand control elements are intuitive to all. Warm materials, gentle lighting and an inviting atmosphere make this space more than just a public toilet. Instead, it’s a place where people feel welcome and can experience TOTO’s universal design philosophy first hand.
Design for a diverse society
Universal design is a fundamental principle at TOTO – not an optional product add-on. Through ongoing research, real encounters with users and a willingness to rethink new standards, TOTO developers are creating solutions that simplify people’s everyday lives to make participation both easy and natural.
More information
The Tokyo Toilet Project
The Tokyo Toilet Project, Update 2022
The Tokyo Toilet Project, completed
Learn more about TOTO’s involvement at EXPO 2025 in Japan:
TOTO: Bronze Sponsor of EXPO 2025
