I&CO
I&CO
Haru Route
Haru Route
Rethinking disaster guidance from a child’s point of view
Rethinking disaster guidance from a child’s point of view
As a country prone to earthquakes and natural disasters, Japan places strong emphasis on daily disaster preparedeness. I&CO introduced Haru Route, a hands-on solution that helps children internalize evacuation routes by placing tape and interacting with clear, intuitive signage.
As a country prone to earthquakes and natural disasters, Japan places strong emphasis on daily disaster preparedeness. I&CO introduced Haru Route, a hands-on solution that helps children internalize evacuation routes by placing tape and interacting with clear, intuitive signage.
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
“Signage children can’t see doesn’t help them”
“Signage children can’t see doesn’t help them”
Conventional evacuation signage is often too high for children to see and placed too sparsely to guide them effectively. Haru Route set out to solve this by placing signs at a child’s eye level and involving them in mapping the route, turning awareness into instinct.
The initiative was originally conceived by I&CO designer Haruka Hashimoto, who grew up in Shizuoka Prefecture, an area in Japan at high risk of significant earthquakes. Motivated by her firsthand awareness of disaster risks, she explored how design could empower children to better prepare for emergencies.
Conventional evacuation signage is often too high for children to see and placed too sparsely to guide them effectively. Haru Route set out to solve this by placing signs at a child’s eye level and involving them in mapping the route, turning awareness into instinct.
The initiative was originally conceived by I&CO designer Haruka Hashimoto, who grew up in Shizuoka Prefecture, an area in Japan at high risk of significant earthquakes. Motivated by her firsthand awareness of disaster risks, she explored how design could empower children to better prepare for emergencies.
WHAT WE DID
WHAT WE DID
Designed for understanding, not just compliance
Designed for understanding, not just compliance
I&CO designed Haru Route to make disaster preparedness part of children’s daily routines by integrating “O-KA-SHI-MO-CHI,” a well-known Japanese safety acronym for evacuation behavior, into the visual design.
To ensure clarity in emergencies, we crafted signage using high-contrast visuals and colors that remain legible across different types of color perception. This approach helped the tape serve as a universal guide during moments of crisis.
We also created educational slides and worksheets that introduced the basics of disaster safety. These slides are designed to further heighten children’s awareness while making the experience engaging and memorable.
I&CO designed Haru Route to make disaster preparedness part of children’s daily routines by integrating “O-KA-SHI-MO-CHI,” a well-known Japanese safety acronym for evacuation behavior, into the visual design.
To ensure clarity in emergencies, we crafted signage using high-contrast visuals and colors that remain legible across different types of color perception. This approach helped the tape serve as a universal guide during moments of crisis.
We also created educational slides and worksheets that introduced the basics of disaster safety. These slides are designed to further heighten children’s awareness while making the experience engaging and memorable.
OUR IMPACT
OUR IMPACT
92%
92%
Percentage of teachers that believe Haru Route would help with student evacuation
Percentage of teachers that believe Haru Route would help with student evacuation
CAPABILITIES
CAPABILITIES
Concept Testing
Business Model Strategy
Packaging Design
Concept Testing
Business Model Strategy
Packaging Design
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