Iterative Design with Global Stakeholders: Disaster Data Science to Real-Time Risk Communication Tools

Abstract:

Scientific tools too often are produced internally from start to finish in formalized institutions and handed off to practitioners without their input in its final design, functionality, and messaging. In disaster risk management, especially with emergency scenarios, this creates a vital gap between scientists’ data delivery and communication and what humanitarian responders need to know in order to prepare, respond, and protect their communities. Where exactly does the responsibility stop for scientific organizations in the chain of translation from research to action, and how do we do better?

This presentation explores new processes of collaboration with users from a data solution’s inception to end use product through a series of iterative human-centered design methods towards effective risk communication for a variety of global humanitarian use cases. We share our approach for integrating key principles in UX/UI design to improve the end use of geospatial flood data in a real-world context including methods such as insight stories, SOP mapping, stakeholder-driven user design exercises, iterative wireframing techniques, and more. Tracing a two-year strong project with Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization and Cloud to Street, we aim to describe the results and lessons learned from engaging and designing with, not just for, emergency professionals over the 2019 and 2020 rainy seasons. These practices have ultimately informed and transformed traditional map products to on-the-ground rapid response tools operated by practitioners on a local to national scale.