Natural Disasters are affecting human settlements with increasing incidents. During the past decade communities throughout the world have suffered losses of life, livelihoods, and dwellings as a result of blizzards, hurricanes, tornados, flooding, tsunamis, drought, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. People affected by these disasters are often required to live in temporary or emergency shelters. However, these shelters fail to consider an assortment of human factors that include: physical, psychological, and sociological needs. Interior Design is among the best-suited professions to address the health, safety, and welfare of people seeking refuge within a shelter.
As such, Interior Designers have a social responsibility to join discussions and assume leadership roles in the design of emergency and temporary shelters.
Design a region specific temporary housing unit of no more than 400 sq. ft. for a family of four. The unit must exhibit how the design and placement of temporary shelters can maintain/restore a sense of self, and social and cultural identity. The unit should include (at a minimum): - A sleeping area, a food preparation area, and a bathroom. - The unit must be assembled and disassembled with ease for practical transportation. - The design must respond to the local community and culture. - Sustainable solutions should be considered. - Think outside the box, push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. - Issues to consider when designing: possible lack of potable water, lack of security, waste management, lack of power, natural elements such as climate, rain. - The unit must be of sound structure and afford the user a sense of security, a tent is not permitted. 
1- University/college students and young professionals (who have graduated within the last 5 years) 2- individual or group submission. 3- Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged (design, engineering, sociology, etc). At least one team member must be an interior designer and/or interior design student. |  |
1- Create a three-minute Public Service Announcement video educating the public on how the design of emergency and temporary shelters can address psychological and sociological conditions following a natural disaster.
The video should contain, at a minimum, a 3D model or rendering of the temporary shelter indicating materials used. Additionally, floor plans, elevation, material specification, along with news clips and relevant regional disaster information, etc. are encourage to add clarity to the video.
2- A $25 fee and application. (Click on Entry form link above)
1- Due December 15, 2012.
2- Winners will be announced at the 2013 National IDEC Conference in Indianapolis on February 19, 2013.
To enter the competition, click on the link above, complete the entry form, pay for the entry fees, and do the following:
Upload your video to Youtube.com, complete the entry form, pay the $25 fees and click submit.
