ShakeOut sets up this project better than I ever could:
Up-and-coming film director, motion graphics designer and Art Center College of Design alumnus, Theo Alexopoulos, takes you on a visceral journey through the USGS ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario. The film was created by the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project in cooperation with the Designmatters program at Art Center to depict the physical, social, and economic consequences of the most comprehensive earthquake scenario ever created.
The film gives the viewers a sense of what will be happening and inspires them to prepare and mitigate for a faster recovery. The premise underlying the film is that design is a powerful catalyst that can bridge the divide between scientific understanding about damaging quakes, and the ability of the public to feel empowered and to change their behavior in terms of preparedness.
I bolded that last bit for emphasis. I couldn’t agree more with that idea. Congrats to ShakeOut and Theo for creating such a compelling visual essay on a subject that could potentially effect the entire world (thanks to the staggering economic costs cited in the film).
High res QuickTimes are available on the ShakeOut project page.
Big thanks to Fred for posting this on Mograph and sharing it with us.