No. 271 Gefahr / Danger

From unpleasantness to catastrophe, life is full of smaller or larger threats, which, like our environment, are subject
to constant change. Design can point out key solution approaches for risks on all levels – from safety precautions
and education on proper conduct in crisis situations to damage control and learnings. In the development of products and systems, design can be crucial for ruling out risks from the outset. Studying a number of cases, we examine how hazards, risks, and dangers inspire design and how design can influence these in turn. Furthermore, we explore the role of design in Ayn Rand’s 1943 novel “The Fountainhead”. In the Discourse section, we go searching for intersections, parallels, and interrelationships between design and anthropology.