Supporting Community Resilience to Environmental Hazards through User-Centered Design

Abstract

This experience report discusses how researchers supported resilience to environmental hazards by leveraging user-centered design (UCD) processes to influence the development of the "HazardAware"website. This project serves as an example of how applied communication design can yield social impact as this paper details the risk communication work for multiple phases of website development. We provide examples of how UCD work helped guide development of environmental hazard information that relates to housing to people living within the project's geographical area. In addition, we describe how this information supports users' ability to build resilience to these risks at both individual and community levels. We conclude by summarizing how UCD helped inform connections between technical communicators and the project team, as well as how we addressed the complexities of environmental justice through research and community outreach.