Designing GENSAI Products to Promote Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and complexity, creating significant challenges for sustainable development. Although strategies such as crisis management and architectural planning have been widely adopted to reduce disaster impacts, the role of product design in disaster preparedness and resilience remains underexplored. This study examines GENSAI design strategies for disaster preparedness and evaluates design concepts developed in Iran and Japan.
The research addresses three questions: (1) How do Iranian and Japanese GENSAI design concepts compare in terms of product type, functionality, and cultural adaptation? (2) What criteria can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of student-developed GENSAI concepts? and (3) How can comparative analysis contribute to the development of a culturally adaptable GENSAI design framework?
A cross-sectional case study approach was employed, drawing on literature review, workshop implementation, and project analysis. Workshops conducted in Japan and Iran were analyzed using a four-phase process: Diagnosis, Planning, Facilitation, and Analysis. Findings were evaluated through hierarchical analysis to identify key design principles and assessment criteria.

The results demonstrate that GENSAI-oriented product design can contribute to disaster preparedness and resilience. While Iranian students tended to propose multifunctional carrier-based solutions, Japanese students developed smaller, personalized products emphasizing everyday care and accessibility. Despite these differences, both groups generated culturally relevant responses to disaster-related challenges. Based on the comparative findings, a Preliminary GENSAI Design Framework was developed, consisting of three layers: foundational principles, design strategies, and an evaluation checklist. The framework provides practical guidance for designing culturally adaptable products that promote everyday resilience in disaster-prone communities.