Interview about Pandaid Website For Infectious Diseases, winner of the A' Social Design Award 2021
Pandaid is a website dedicated to protecting lives from pandemics. It is co-edited by volunteers, including doctors, editors, and more. The editorial emphasis goes towards providing scientific facts in ways that are easy to understand and to implement. As part of the project, there're other developments, a face shield to prevent splashes, signage to protect social distance humorously, and posters to communicate its importance.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsAs the coronavirus pandemic spread, Yokohama's Chinatown, where my office is located, was deserted due to the nearby docking of the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Seeing the dire situation of local people and my favorite restaurants being driven out of business, I was inspired by my previous experience with the OLIVE project to start Pandaid.
We focused on designing compelling content by referencing existing information sources instead of conducting individual research. We also established a fact-checking team of doctors and researchers to ensure the accuracy of articles, as misinformation can spread during chaotic times.
During the lockdown, when people were inundated with grim and often overwhelming information, we prioritized making the content not only reliable but also accessible, engaging, and even enjoyable. By incorporating visually intuitive layouts, interactive elements, and clear, concise language, we sought to transform complex medical data into actionable guidance. The goal was to create a user-friendly platform that not only informed but also uplifted, providing a sense of ease and clarity in a challenging time.
We had native speakers of various languages among our volunteers, who took on leadership roles for their respective languages and countries. Their initiative and ability to involve others led to the project's expansion into multiple languages, which was very inspiring.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the challenges we faced were complex and diverse. Moreover, similar situations were occurring worldwide, making each small problem a significant design issue. I believe that new questions often spur new creations.
The key was creating a solution that could be realized even without physical materials in a setting where resources were scarce. If there were no protective gear, medical workers would have to risk their lives. I hope the experience and designs from this time will prove useful in any future pandemics.
It's challenging to quantify, but the number of views and the information utilized by healthcare facilities have been our pride. Personally, the most significant impact was seeing our information circulate and end up on the notice board of my condominium, posted by one of the largest property management companies for all the buildings they manage.
People unconsciously filter out heavy or rigid information, making important messages hard to convey. Incorporating fun and approachability into the information design was a crucial strategy.
Until now, the website was focused solely on coronavirus countermeasures, and I hadn't thought much about further development since the pandemic began to subside. It would be interesting to expand this into a project for preventing the spread of future infectious diseases.
The world operates in systems of similarity. Whether you realize that a problem in front of you is not just a small local issue but a simultaneous global challenge is crucial. Connecting the details of designs created in front of you with a global impact is essential for designing solutions that bridge local and global contexts.
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