Design study, Public Safety
Notice It, Report It
A self-initiated design study: Teach people to report unattended bags or unusual behavior to staff or patrol, based on actions, never appearance.
These are self-initiated studies, not client work. Each is a fictional campaign; none was commissioned by, produced for, or approved by any agency or organization.
The brief
- Line of business
- Public Safety
- Audience
- Riders, visitors, and workers at the ferry landing, cruise terminal, and busy waterfront plazas.
- Objective
- Teach people to report unattended bags or unusual behavior to staff or patrol, based on actions, never appearance.
- When and where
- Every day, every visit, Terminals, landings, plazas
Concept A: You Know This Place 12
Trusts regulars to notice what is out of place in a space they know well, which makes reporting feel natural. Type style.
Concept B: Actions, Not Looks 12
Spells out what to report, actions and objects rather than how anyone looks, so reports stay fair and useful. Scene style.
Concept C: Awkward Is Fine 12
Admits that speaking up feels awkward and gives permission to do it anyway, since a false alarm is fine. Grid style.
Spanish adaptation of You Know This Place 12
The first direction adapted rather than translated: the headline, supporting line, and call to action rewritten in Spanish, with the layout reflowed for the longer text. Type style.
What was checked
Every one of the 48 pieces was checked as it was composed. The lowest text contrast measured anywhere in this study is 5.87 to 1, against a minimum of 4.5 to 1. Type sizes are in the units of each format: pixels for digital formats, and for print, units of the drawing at the sizes shown.
| Format | Minimum type size | Smallest set | Lowest contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poster, 18 by 24 inches | 11 | 13.2 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Flyer, letter | 11 | 13.5 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Social story, vertical | 13 | 13.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Retractable banner | 10 | 10.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Display ad, 160 by 600 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Social post, square | 13 | 13.2 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Display ad, 300 by 250 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Postcard, 6 by 4 inches | 13 | 13.2 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Event cover | 12 | 12.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Billboard | 12 | 12.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Email header | 11 | 11.0 | 5.87 to 1 |
| Display ad, 728 by 90 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.87 to 1 |