JD Institute of Fashion Technology
Is Your Design Disaster-Proof? A Thought-Provoking Session at JD Institute, Hauz Khas

What happens when design is placed in the context of crisis, safety, and survival? This was the central question explored during a compelling session on Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response held at our JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Hauz Khas campus.

Curated for our Jediiians of fashion and interior design, the session was led by Dr. Nakul Kr Tarun, Founder of Zone4Solutions, that challenged conventional ideas and urged students to rethink their role as designers in a world increasingly affected by disasters.

Redefining the Role of a Designer

Dr. Nakul Kr Tarun dismantled the traditional idea that disaster management belongs only to emergency responders or policymakers. Instead, he placed designers at the centre of disaster risk reduction.

Students learned that:

• Design decisions affect safety, accessibility, and resilience
• Aesthetic choices without context can increase vulnerability
• Responsible design protects people, not just spaces

The key message was simple yet powerful:

A designer’s job isn’t just to decorate the world but also to protect it.

What Students Learned (Clearly & Practically)

The session focused on helping students understand, evaluate, and apply disaster management concepts.

Key Areas Covered:

• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery
  
• Humanitarian Response Standards: Global frameworks used across disasters and conflicts
  
• Real-world Applications: How these standards are adapted across countries and cultures

Instead of overwhelming students with technical language, the session broke down complex ideas into relatable examples, making it easier to connect theory with practice.

India, the World, and Policy Reality

A major highlight was the critical evaluation of disaster management policies, with a strong focus on India.

Students examined:

• Strengths and gaps in India’s disaster management framework
  
• How other countries plan and respond differently
  
• Why some disaster responses succeed while others fail

This comparative approach encouraged students to think from multiple angles like, social, developmental, environmental, and ethical, rather than seeing disaster management as a one-dimensional topic.

The “Development vs Disaster” Paradox

One of the most engaging discussions centred around a crucial contradiction: Can development increase disaster risks?

Students explored how:

• Rapid urbanisation without planning amplifies vulnerability
  
• Poor infrastructure worsens disaster impact
  
• Design choices directly influence safety and resilience

For fashion and interior design students, this insight was transformative. It connected their creative future with real human consequences.

What Students Took Away

By the end of the session, students developed competencies in:

• Applying disaster management concepts to real-life scenarios
  
• Understanding different categories of disasters
  
• Recognising their societal role as future designers
  
• Designing with awareness of human safety and sustainability
  

More importantly, they began designing with a pulse on people, not just products.

A Step Towards Holistic Design Education

JD Institute of Fashion Technology continues to expand design education beyond studios and classrooms by integrating industry insights and global concerns.

This session didn’t just inform, it reframed how students think. The institute extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Nakul Kr Tarun for delivering such a thought-provoking and impactful lecture, and remains committed to shaping designers who are creative, conscious, and socially responsible.