DISASTER DESIGN
NEED.HAVE.GIVE.
INTRODUCTION
This project belongs to a part of a cooperation between Kyushu University Fukuoka in Japan and the University of Applied Science Darmstadt in Germany. The task was to create a design on the subject of disaster design. There was no focus on a country and a specific disaster. The two universities initially worked separately on the design. Afterwards there will be an exchange between the different students. The students from Germany travel to Japan for two weeks, after that the students from Japan travel to Germany for two weeks. During this time they share their designs and work together on the topic of Disaster Design. The designs of the students in Germany will be exhibited at the Darmstadt Design House and the designs of the students in Japan at the Kyushu University Fukuoka.
I am a student at the University of Applied Science Darmstadt in Germany. I spend a semester at Kyushu University Fukuoka in Japan. I create this draft during my semester abroad.
EXCURSIONS
In order to better understand a disaster and the problems involved, two trips have been made to places where one or more such accidents happened. On the ground, the consequences of the disaster, rebuilding and measures to protect a renewed disaster were considered. In addition, they talked to the locals, the inhabitants of the villages, to hear their stories, experiences and concerns.
KUROGAWA
First, we went to the small village of Kyoseinosato There was a disaster in 2018. Mr. Kazunobu Yanag welcomed us warmly and guided us through the city museum. This museum was formerly the elementary school. After the disaster, they decided to create a place where art of all kinds is shown, creating a spiritual place where the village not only thinks about the sadness of the disaster. It should show other people, „we survived and that’s what we made of it“, but it should also bring back the tourism. Mr. Kazunobu Yanag tells us that this has succeeded. In the meantime tourist groups from different countries come to hear their story. There was also a talk with an artist on site whose exhibition on mandala art took place at that time. She says that her art is not just about the individual images and to look at them. It is also about a spiritual, meditative experience that you have in the whole room, connected with music and its art. The artist has already made many exhibitions, including in major cities such as Tokyo. However, she says that this is her favorite place and that such an exhibition can only be done in a place like this one. A place of tranquility and sadness, but also a place of pride and rebuilding. In Tokyo, a noisy place full of speed, she can not make such an exhibition.
Mr. Kazunobu Yanagi was asked what kind of product or situation he or she missed, needed or could be improved. He did not give a concrete answer. He said only that one can not prepare for disaster with any product, because he has learned that nature is too powerful. He told many stories that happened during or after the disaster and made it clear that each person has his own story. He told these stories with pride and dedication.
KUMAMOTO
On the second trip we went to Minamiaso village. There was a disaster in 2014 and 2016. On the ground, we met with Mr. Yamauchi, who has a coordinating role, as he is committed to all matters for the city in the government and is the point of contact. He also told many stories about individuals and did not complain about missing products. He was much more concerned about the wrong help they received from the government. Funds were being used for systems to protect a renewed disaster rather than first building the city, although many people still lived in the temporary houses. The temporary houses are provided for people whose homes have been destroyed to a certain level. There, people are allowed to live for free for three years to rebuild their house. However, these people are mostly old and can not rebuild their house themselves. The younger people usually move directly to the largest cities to continue their education, because the railway line has not been repaired even after three years. On our trip we visited two different „temporary houses“. Every small „temporary houses“ city has community centers in which the inhabitants meet and try to cope with the predicament. The cohesion and community that develops there helps people very much.
RESEARCH
The Internet research has revealed amazing results. Many people want to help when they learn that such a disaster has occurred. However, many do not know how to help them. Donating a sum of money is usually the simplest solution, but there are also people who fear that the money will not arrive. People who can not help with money and prefer to tackle on the spot or donate utensils, do not know who to turn to or alone can achieve little. Victims say that they receive donations from food, even though they have enough food and need more clothing. Obviously, there is an enormous communication problem. The following statements are from the perspective of the victims and the helpers.
These two points will focus on this design.
1. Telling his story and building a community..
2. Find, search and give others help.
CONCEPT
In order to make contact between different people who do not know each other, in most cases it requires the Internet. In fact, a website or app. That‘s why implementing the idea is an app, but also a website, because many people who can use this idea are at an age when they do not have a smartphone. In this app/website you can create your own profile, no matter whether you are an interested person or a victim. Everyone can seek, find or offer help. Find natural catastrophes of the past and read stories of those affected. Chat with them and build a community.
For the menu items Disaster, Story, Help and News the following app.
LOGO - COLOUR - FONT
The Logo is based on the infinity symbol. This symbol should inmagine the cohesion in such sad times. The times after a disaster. Because it is also an communication app because of the story and helping functions, the infinity symbol is added to an spech bubble. The colour is a soft blue, because blue is a colour you can find everywhere in the natur. The sky or the ocean show always this color. Also the colour is not annoying. If an Disaster happend in your area the color from the icon changed on your homescreen. It will shown in a dark blue. This colour is still not annoying, but its not that light annymore. You can see something changed and if you want you can have a look whats happend.
PICTOGRAMS
Mainmenu
Disaster
Find a Disaster and inform yourself about certain types of Disaster. If you‘ve found a disaster, read stories about it or see if anyone needs help.
Story
Find exciting stories or write your own story. If you found a story that you liked a lot, contact the author, or see if there is a community chat and join. You can also see if the story has a help link linked to it.
Help
Post your own ad, what kind of help you need, or search in your area for the right help. You want help, then show an ad, what help you offer and put it online.
News
See what‘s going on in the world or on your doorstep. Get new strategies for disaster or any other news that covers this topic.
About us
Here is the app briefly explained and how to use it. For what situations and what you should consider.
Sidemenu
Profile
Get your profile and edit it to your liking.
Mail
Here you can find your contacts and your chats, like community chats.
Home
Go to the main menu to access the items Disaster, Story, Help, News and About us.
Saved
Save stories that you liked a lot and use them again and again.
Search
Search Profiles, Disasters, Stories or Helps. Here, the search radius that was set in the settings is displayed again.
THE PRODUCT
This design is for the period after the disaster. This platform is designed to bring together people with similar incidents and create a community that can operate in small regions but is also global. The search radius for any function can be adjusted manually. On the one hand, it is about telling your own story and reading stories, in order to get in touch with people in your radius and to become a community. Furthermore, it is about being able to offer help, but also to seek help. The platform makes it possible to help each other without transferring a sum of money to an unknown account. Need, have, give is the motto and should connect people. In addition, you can learn about disaster in general and see what's going on in the world right now. If the icon on your phone turns from light blue to dark blue, it means that a disaster has happened in your set radius.
Always be up to date and be a part of a community.
DOCUMENTATION
