let’s replace the old version

According to Red Cross on average more than 211 million people have been affected by natural, or manmade disasters each year. What’s more the agency reports that this number is constantly growing.

The design brief is based in a scenario where all of the sudden hundreds thousands of people loose their relatives, properties, become homeless. What role can/does design play in crisis situations? Can design make a significant difference to those in despair?

My research made me realise how many issues aid agencies have to face while distributing aid. I always thought that main problems are to accumulate needed funds and to get appropriate amount of aid workers, but now i see that there are plenty of other issues. Logistic, transportation, conflict of interests with local governments, cultural differences, lack of cooperation from local societies are just some of them. Therefore, is design a solution for mentioned problems?

Already some aid organisations turn to designers for help in solving their issues. There are crisis relieve projects run by profit and non-profit design practices and universities. Designers like Fred Cuny show via their activity that creative, well considered approach can make difference. Unfortunately the importance of design is still underestimated. Some designs never pass the stage of prototyping because of lack of funds for this purpose. The solutions used by aid agencies are often outdated, inappropriate. For instance, same canvas tents are being in use since 20 years although new lightweight designs should have replaced them years ago.

“In our business it’s really difficult to say, ‘I have something new, and let’s replace the old version’”

Ghassem Fardanesh, UNHCR

Hopefully this situation will soon change.