SEOUL DESIGN AWARD

FLIP - Convertible Helmet-Stool for Earthquake Protection is a disaster preparedness product that converts a regularly used stool into a helmet to protect the head during an earthquake. While over 30% of earthquake-related deaths are related to head injuries occurring during evacuation, a survey of 634 residents in Taiwan showed that more than 76% of households do not own earthquake preparedness supplies. In particular, more than half of all buildings in Taiwan are over 30 years old, making it necessary to prepare for risks from collapse or falling objects during evacuation.

FLIP solved the limitations of conventional disaster prevention goods that need to be stored separately by combining everyday furniture and safety equipment. It is normally used as a minimalist stool placed naturally in living spaces, and when an earthquake occurs, it can be flipped over and worn directly on the head. It was designed to be used quickly even in emergency situations as there is no need to fasten buckles or assemble separate parts.

The exterior applies high-strength ABS+PC material and a rib structure that disperses impact, while the interior uses a TPU honeycomb structure that deforms according to impact and absorbs energy. The TPU inner material replacing conventional EPS foam can be used repeatedly and is made in a detachable structure so that only necessary parts can be replaced. It is configured in four sizes for use from children to adults, and luminous elements are applied to the surface so that it can be easily found even in dark evacuation situations.

The core of the design lies in including disaster preparedness goods within everyday items used daily rather than as separate objects taken out only in emergencies. It does not require a separate storage space and can be used as a stool normally, which lowers the burden of purchasing and storing disaster preparedness goods. Applying four colors and a simple shape so that it can be placed naturally in various residential environments is also part of this approach.

Through this, earthquake preparation is transformed from preparation for a special situation into a part of the daily living environment. It also has the role of social design in that it increases physical and psychological accessibility to safety equipment so that more families can prepare for disasters without separate behavioral changes. It primarily targets the 76% of Taiwanese households currently without earthquake preparedness supplies, and has recorded over 24,000 views on social media as well.

The product's lifespan and maintenance were also considered. The shock-absorbing inner material can be reused and component-wise replacement is possible, so only the necessary parts can be replaced without discarding the entire product. By combining everyday furniture and disaster prevention equipment into a single product, the burden of producing and storing each product separately is also reduced.

FLIP adopted a simple shape and usage method so that it can be applied not only to Taiwan but also to high-seismic-risk regions such as Japan, Turkey, Indonesia, Chile, and the western United States. Step-by-step development leading to prototyping, CNS 1336 safety certification, and mass production through crowdfunding is planned, and it can be expanded into furniture for schools, offices, and public spaces in the future. By combining disaster response functions with routinely used furniture, it presents the possibility of product design that allows preparing for safety close to daily life without preparing separate disaster prevention goods.