Publications

2023

Abstract

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.

Design in the context of disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and (wild) fires, provides new ways of looking at challenges. It contributes methods to actively engage communities in managing and minimizing disaster risk. Contributors present the latest research on how (collaborative) design and design thinking contribute to the development of processes and solutions to increase disaster literacy and decrease disaster risk for individuals and entire communities. Chapters highlight applied research and implementation of design and design thinking before, during, and after emergencies, resulting in a set of design guidelines derived from best practice.

The book will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in emergency management, product and service design, strategic design, design research, co-design, social design, design for change, and human-centered design.

Abstract

A successful emergency product or instructional design acknowledges potential unpredictable user behavior and considers the instinctive hard-wired response of a user in distress, who may exhibit different responses than expected and even practiced and learned ‘right’ behavior can become counter-productive. However, in product development, the focus is too often on the performance of the product before an emergency occurs with the activation of the device as its culmination. In response, this chapter presents seven design guidelines for emergency products based on human responses during an emergency. In addition, it emphasizes three key design tactics often overlooked in design for emergencies: affordances, signifiers and feedback. The guidelines are subsequently applied to assess the current generation of marine distress flares, showing that despite their improved technical specifications, current designs are prone to incorrect use and potential injury. However, minimal changes to the original design offer the opportunity to positively alter the perception of the products’ intent and usability. The evaluation reinforces the value of the guidelines established as a framework for thinking about design for emergencies and grounding the design process in empathy with a user in distress and the physiological and cognitive limitations they are likely to experience during an emergency.

Abstract

This chapter discusses design-driven, co-creative projects for the improvement of emergency-management systems. To weather a disaster, if one occurs, people should have access to successfully delivered information regarding what they must have and what they must do. Recent projects addressing this matter have combined design-driven development with the co-creation model, resulting in four distinct design methods: (1) input from clients, as well as designers, (2) professional co-design, (3) designer–retailer collaboration, and (4) self-funded input from designers and sponsors. Workshops, panels, and other brainstorming processes enable designers and other contributors of design-based projects to voice their thoughts, to reveal pitfalls in existing and proposed designs, to clarify problems, and to propose, assess, and refine solutions. The knowledge gleaned from these efforts was then divided into four preparedness-related categories: (1) fundamental knowledge, (2) humanitarian needs, (3) adapted assistance, and (4) routines and updates. After exploring these methods one by one, the importance of co-creative, design-driven development for preparedness is discussed and how seven components—propaganda, activities, personnel, technology, equipment, communication, and visual identity—create a reliable emergency-management system rooted in public consciousness.

Abstract

Wildfire events across North America are impacting more communities, putting people’s lives and possessions increasingly at risk. Local community leadership and emergency management are taking the initiative to develop public-facing wildfire information campaigns to help people identify two factors: (1) the level of fire risk where they live and (2) evacuation route alternatives. FireClear is a visual diagrammatic methodology applied to public-facing maps that help people become aware of their risk and wildfire hazard areas prior to a wildfire event. The goal of FireClear is to help people learn new evacuation routes that may differ from everyday routines. FireClear maps translate data-driven and content-heavy GIS maps traditionally developed and used by government agencies for internal planning into simplified and visually consistent public-facing maps to improve understanding and increase transparency and enhance communication. FireClear maps are not meant to be used at the time of a wildfire. FireClear is a tool to be used to help develop a person’s cognitive map of their risk area before a crisis, and to facilitate learning and remembering new evacuation route options. During a wildfire, people should rely on local alerts and listen to information from local authorities.

Abstract

By providing health information through visual communication, public health organizations can effectively guide and persuade people to adopt healthy behaviors, which is critical in the context of public health crises. In this study, drawing upon congruity theory and the premise of visual communication, we examined how information source and emoji may shape people’s preventive and self-protective behaviors through perceived fear (PF) and perceived controllability (PC). Using a convenience sample of 210 participants, we conducted a 2 (emoji: with versus without) × 2 (information source: official versus unofficial) between-subject experiment. The results indicated that, compared with nonuse, the use of emoji in information resulted in higher PF, stronger preventive behavioral intention (PBI), and lower PC. In addition, a strong interaction effect was observed between emoji and the source of information on PBI. When emoji were added to health information released by an unofficial organization, the text outperformed that from an official agency in persuading people to adopt preventive behaviors. Furthermore, we determined that PF mediated the effect of emoji on PBI, but only for unofficial information sources. These results provide a reference for enhancing the effectiveness of health information including visual cues, such as emoji.

Abstract

Compared with traditional channels of information dissemination, social media allow users to explore, to reveal and to share all kinds of information via web, reinforcing word spreading effect with such online interactivities. Convincing health information often contains clear data, distinct hierarchies and strong visual appeal. This study investigated how the application of emoji and design complexity affects social media engagement and the level of perceived visual informativeness of health information. We conducted an online experiment with a 2 (emoji: with versus without) X 2 (information design complexity: high versus low) between-subjects research. A total of 277 subjects participated in this study. Results show that, firstly, health information with emoji leads to higher social media engagement and perceived visual informativeness. Secondly, high complexity information was more convincing in terms of increasing perceived visual informativeness. Thirdly, a significant interaction effect was found on perceived visual informativeness between emoji and the design complexity of health information. In addition, visual symbols, such as emoji, are more meaningful in health information with higher design complexity than those without visual intervention or low complexity. The evidence from this study provides strategies for making visual information in health more persuasive and engaging.

2022

Abstract

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have a profoundly higher risk of death or injury than their peers when natural disasters occur. International policies call for inclusive disaster risk reduction education (DRRE) to help ameliorate this situation. This paper focuses on Indonesia, which has one the highest incidences of these disasters. A three-part structured literature review was undertaken regarding DRRE and children with SEND, followed by a questionnaire to in schools. Firstly, potential papers were screened against explicit criteria, yielding 23 papers for inclusion in the review. Secondly, these 23 papers were screened for identifiable DRR programmes, producing 12 items. Thirdly, evaluations of these 12 programmes were sought. The findings revealed that children with SEND were largely absent within the published research, the DRRE programmes, and all subsequent evaluations of the DRRE programmes. Questionnaire responses from 769 teachers from across Indonesia indicated that DRRE was often lacking, and that no programmes that were being used were accessible for all children. This is the first study to gain this insight and it concludes that there is a need for DRRE across mainstream, inclusive, and special schools, which has an inclusive and enagaing pedagogy that is accessible for all children.

Abstract

Under the circumstance of continuous variation of COVID-19 virus, verified the temporariness of the vaccines made by various countries. One cannot expect permanent protection by accepting only one dose of vaccine. In order to prepare and respond to the pandemic, many countries are applying different strategies to increase vaccination rates. The WHO appeals to the world to take the vaccine booster shot for community immunity. Relevant authorities then have to provide and spread visual health messages on the booster shot to keep the public informed. This study examine how unofficial organizations can guide and persuade people to adopt relevant health actions more effectively (such as continuous vaccination) by introducing emoji with different emotional valences in different message framing. An online experiment adopted a 2 (emoji: positive versus negative) × 2 (message framing: gain framing versus loss framing) design to investigate the effects of contrary emoji on people’s self-efficacy to continuously take the booster shot. In total of 240 university students were recruited to participate in this study. Within two types of message framing, the experiment simulated 4 pieces of health messages on the COVID-19 booster shot released by an unofficial organization, together with emoji of two emotional valences. The results showed that health messages with negative emoji result in stronger self-efficacy to user. Moreover, there is an interaction effect between emoji and message framing on self-efficacy. This study is intended to provide meaningful insights for health communicators, visual designers and health practitioners concerned.

Abstract

For nearly a decade, emoji have been widely used as a substitute for nonverbal clues in computer mediated communication, especially in social media. Although the use of emoji in health communication via social media is becoming pervasive, the influences of using emoji in health information on information receivers’ perceptions and behavior has not been fully studied. In order to discover these influences, this study collected 210 Taiwanese self-statement questionnaires for analysis during the COVID-19 period in Taiwan in 2021. It adopted a 2×2 between-subject design to examine and respond to the research questions. The results verified the enhancement effect of the use of emoji in health information and the moderation effect of the information source. In the emoji condition, health information leads to a higher level of risk perception at receivers’ personal and societal levels. It also enhances the receivers’ preventive behavior intention. This experiment revealed an interaction effect between emoji and information source on preventive behavioral intention, namely that emoji work better on health information issued by unofficial organizations. The results provide indications and suggestions for how and when to use emoji effectively to design and deliver health information.

2021

Abstract

Pets and other animals can act as a protective factor in an emergency if we leverage design to communicate more effectively. A new prototype website does just that.

2019

Abstract

This guidebook presents the contents of the first Design Network for Emergency Management (DNEM) workshop on Design for emergency management. Intended for emergency managers and other interested parties, this guidebook provides an easily accessible overview of visual language, iconography, cognition in emergencies, rapid prototyping, evaluation and ethics.

Each of these topics warrants a full book and course in its own right, and neither the workshop nor this guidebook can do justice to the breadth and depth of these subjects. However, we aim to introduce you to some key ideas, and provide you with easy-to-use tools to incorporate these design concepts into your day-to-day work.

2015

Abstract

Disaster preparedness is key to coping and adaptation during the immediate aftermath of a natural hazard, but the majority of those at risk do not feel prepared. In this participatory action research we investigate the use of a participatory design approach to increase disaster preparedness around Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica. We present a case study of two ideation workshops and explore the process, outcomes, challenges and opportunities during ideation. Socio-cognitive dimensions, specifically risk and responsibility transfer, appear to be important factors influencing the uptake of self-protective measures. Challenges in workshop facilitation were of a human, cultural and resource nature. However, the overall process was successful with participants showing indications of empowerment and a number of pressing design opportunities identified.

2013

Abstract

Visual-information design is capable not only of delivering messages to its viewers, but also of enhancing services that structure and represent concepts. This approach is a way to merge aesthetics and functionality into one design practice for fully meeting users’ needs and satisfactions. From this design perspective, information that people will visualize should be accessible and understandable. Information satisfying these two criteria would have meaningful content that is self-explanatory enough to spark users’ interest in seeing the information, to complement users’ ability to understand it, and possibly to inspire the users further. That how to make the visual-information to be qualified falls not only onto the real practices, onto the general design theory that serves to enhance the visual-friendly nature of content for users, but also onto the understanding targeted users. Understanding your targeted users is the backbone of design processes from the very beginning to the end. This article addresses the preliminary stage in a robotic service and marketing experiment, where as to understand users’ experience from their outer indication (behavior and reaction) and inner gain (information learned and perception). With visualization processes, information design solution, and Kolb’s Learning Style, we defined (a) goal-oriented, (b) pioneer, (c) observer, and (d) risk-taker four user types. Those definitions and discussions provide important references for visual strategy development. As design rests on the processes of problem solving, user study rests on the processes of observing and understanding users for their needs, expectations and satisfactions. Aside from the information-design and commercial-design theories that can guide designers to ensure the representations are usable, legible and understandable, the user study can fill the gap in the theory and practice. It can also avoid the ambiguity of design details for sparking users’ interest in access the interface and for inspiring them to activate further interaction.

2011

Abstract

A recent benchmark concluded that only 9% felt confident in knowing how to respond to a city evacuation order. The benchmark also indicated that 80% would not know how they would be notified, and 86% would not know what to do should they be notified. This paper links the taxonomy of semiotics and visualization currently used in two approaches of evacuation information —city and aircraft scenarios— and provides juxtapositional perspectives in visual representation, as well as addressing issues of effectiveness of communication, planning, and training. Evacuation materials look and perform differently, not only due to spatial and logistical constraints (such as between city and aircraft scenarios), but also in evacuees’ communicative relationships (receiving, reading, and comprehending instructional information). Cognitive variables in the psychology of emergency ingress and egress, collective behavior, tunnel vision, and issues in temporary cognitive paralysis are applied to the assessment and evaluation of evacuation documents. The assessment and conclusion in addressing current evacuation
material will be presented as a proposal for a city public pre-evacuation campaign improving resident education, training, and “path knowledge.”

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