Reflection of Designing for Disaster

Reflections

The current brief required a design to meet the needs of people in the developing world, who have fallen victim to natural disaster. This focus placed a number of constraints on the type of design.

In many ways, the need to design for people in such dire situations accentuates the general requirements sought in responsible design. Items must be highly functional, affordable and easily distributed. Designing to these constraints has been a refreshing means of directing my efforts and ensuring that I avoid designing-for-design. By this I mean the concept of designing a product which is mor

e novelty than function.

I started with a variety of concepts to assist people in managing/surviving a heat-wave. However, while these concepts seemed entirely acceptable as consumer products, they didn’t seem essential. And thus they didn’t seem to meet the needs of people (in poverty) dealing with disaster.

This was an important distinction that I recognized in my design process. I became cogni

sant of the distinction between convenience products and essential products.

In developing my final concept, the Nutri-Test soil tester, I continually tried to draw it back to functionality and usability by subsistence farmers. The underlying concept was ensuring that the product needed to be inexpensive while being easy to use. Incorporating visual instructions was a key element to developing the final product. While the product form was designed for disposable, one-off use.

Another driving point to my design, was to ensure that the design was simple. In many ways, designing with simplicity in mind was more challenging. It forced a sense of economy in my designs, which I have often over-looked.

In terms of future design projects I think I will draw from this experience to continue to be critical of the nature of my design. Is it necessary? Is it economical in form and material?