Disaster preparedness is key to coping and adaptation during the immediate aftermath of a natural hazard but the majority of those at risk do not feel prepared . In this participatory action research we investigate the use of a participatory design approach to increase disaster preparedness around Turrialba volcano Costa Rica . We present a case study of two ideation workshops and explore the process outcomes challenges and opportunities during ideation . Socio cognitive dimensions specifically risk and responsibility transfer appear to be important factors influencing the uptake of self protective measures . Challenges in workshop facilitation were of a human cultural and resource nature . However the overall process was successful with participants showing indications of empowerment and a number of pressing design opportunities identified . Volcanic activity results in tremendous human social environmental and economic costs between 1900 and 2012 volcanic eruptions have been identified as the cause of more than 4.5 million fatalities worldwide they inhibited development and poverty reduction efforts devastated complete ecosystems and the economic cost of volcanic activity from 1900 to 2014 has been estimated as at least US 3 billion . These costs are only set to increase in future natural disasters as an increasing number of people are living in high risk areas resulting in additional economic and infrastructure development thereby increasing the relative risk in these areas . A multi strand approach to minimize losses as the results of disasters has been implemented globally by the UN since the 1960s . The current 10 year plan is outlined by the Hyogo Framework for Action . Established in 2005 it seeks to establish resilience at all levels of society through the systematic integration of risk reduction into policy . It aims to achieve this by addressing the following strategic goals and priorities governance assessment and monitoring knowledge and education risk factors and disaster preparedness and response . Disaster preparedness at individual household and community levels is a fundamental component of resilience and can be defined as the process of encouraging availability of resources to facilitate coping and the systems and competencies to coordinate and utilize these resources . It plays a particularly important role in coping and adaptation during the immediate aftermath of a natural hazard when individuals and communities are expected to be self reliant for a minimum of 72 h . To encourage disaster preparedness at local levels efforts have traditionally focused on education regarding natural hazards and associated risks . This is predominantly accomplished through one way communication that takes the form of distribution of printed material aimed at a homogeneous audience . The material commonly emphasizes actions individuals can perform to protect themselves . Implicit in this approach is the fallacious belief that imparting scholarly information automatically leads to awareness which converts to actions . However people s actions in the face of risk are not just determined by objective scientific information but also by how this information is perceived in light of people s expectations previous experiences and. 


Highlights:
First application of participatory design to volcanic disaster risk management. Two participatory ideation workshops with communities at Turrialba volcano. Uptake self protective measures influenced by transfer of risk and responsibility. Workshop challenges resulted from human cultural and resource factors.