It’s been a quiet few months on our end. Not because we’ve slowed down, but because we’ve been busy turning ideas into action behind the scenes. One of the most exciting outcomes of that work is the forthcoming book by Claudine Jaenichen, which explores how design, safety culture, and inclusion intersect. It’s expected to be out later this year or early 2027.
2026 marks the ten‑year anniversary of the informal birth of the Design for Emergency Management Network, when our five founders first met on a Skype call. Watching that modest group evolve into a thriving, internationally‑connected community has been truly inspiring, and we’re delighted to see growing interest in design‑driven emergency management. Our first event to mark this milestone will be early June when we have a 2-day symposium planned. Abstract submissions are now open!
Looking ahead to 2026, we’re committed to publishing a quarterly newsletter that delivers genuinely useful insights: case studies, project updates, and practical tips. By keeping each issue focused and evidence‑based, we aim to support our growing community, reinforce the network’s mission, and provide members with the knowledge they need to design more resilient communities. We want to hear from you though! The better we know how we can support you in your work, the more relevant the content we can share.
Last, but not least, we are happy to report that the Design for Emergency Management 2025 Annual Report is now available online. The report highlights key achievements such as the wildfire evacuation maps for Nevada City, California, the climate‑resilient and self‑reliant activity in Leiden funded by the Oranje Fonds, and provides a clear picture of our financial position, and 2026 goals.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Drop us a line at hello@dnem.org we personally read and respond to every message. And if there’s something you’d like to see in the newsletter, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best wishes,
Saskia, Claudine, Tingyi, Klaus and Rodrigo
Join Us for a Decade of Design for Emergency Management
Celebrate our 10th anniversary with a special two-day online symposium, bringing together designers, researchers, emergency managers, first responders, academics, and policy professionals from around the world. This free event will feature short presentations and interactive discussions on how design can support communities before, during, and after emergencies.
Key Topics:
Inclusive evacuation systems
Disaster wayfinding
Crisis and risk communication
Community preparedness and resilience
Design for emergency response environments
Event Details:
Dates: June 1–2, 2026
Times: June 1 (16:00–18:00 UTC) and June 2 (21:00–23:00 UTC)
Format: Fully online and free
Call for Speakers: We invite submissions on design, communication, planning, or operational practices related to emergencies. Share your research, real-world experiences, or innovative approaches. The call for speakers closes on April 30, 2026.
Did you know that we’ve curated a collection of books focused on design for emergency management, accessibility, and inclusive communities? These titles explore how thoughtful, intentional design can make spaces, services, and systems safer and more resilient, especially in times of crisis. Explore the collection here: Design for Emergency Management Every purchase supports independent bookstores and helps us continue sharing knowledge that strengthens communities.
This book is small, charming, and perhaps a bit too simplistic for those of us already advocating for this essential design prerequisite.
That said, it offers useful visuals and examples that can help demonstrate to others why equity and inclusion must be built into design processes from the very start.
Please note that if you purchase the book via the above link you are supporting an independent bookstore, and we earn a small commission. All at no extra cost to you! Take 15% OFF select titles when you enter BSO15 at checkout, valid until April 1, 2026. Discount off list prices, and excludes Ebooks. Bookshop.org is a better way to buy books online. Every purchase on Bookshop.org supports local, independent bookstores. Happy reading!
This guidebook presents the contents of the first workshop on Design for emergency Management. It is a short and easy read to introduce key ideas, and provides you with easy-to-use tools to incorporate these design concepts into your day-to-day work. It is aimed at emergency managers and anyone interested in the topic. The book covers visual language, iconography, cognition in emergencies, rapid prototyping, evaluation and ethics.
This book provides a more in-depth and academic perspective on Design for Emergency Management. Through a combination of theory, practice, and a range of interdisciplinary case studies, this book expands how we define and think about the critical role and relationship between design and emergencies. This role extends far beyond aesthetics: the book highlights the urgency of ensuring that a wide range of stakeholders and a diverse representation of the public comes together to work towards preventing disasters.
If you enjoyed this issue of the Design for Emergency Managementnewsletter, help us spread the knowledge by forwarding it to friends and colleagues who would benefit too.
Our mission is to keep this resource free and accessible for everyone, but we can only do it with your support. Every donation, big or small, helps us continue to provide valuable insights, practical tools, and expert guidance to the emergency management community.
Donate now and be part of empowering safer, better-prepared communities.
