Working collaboratively in a team, and In partnership with the Jefferson-Abington Hospital Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Center in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, visual designers were tasked with developing a suite of comprehensive communication strategies to enhance the presence and impact of the SAFE Center in the Montgomery County community. The designs aim to support physical and digital spaces that convey safety, trust, and care to help patients who have experienced sexual violence and/or abuse as they navigate this uniquely complex medical setting.
Our team of designers used Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles to develop trauma-informed communication design strategies. This process required creating stakeholder maps to understand who are the people and professions that interact with the SAFE Center, how they interact with this space with journey maps, and conducting interviews with forensic nurses, victims’ advocates, and law enforcement. From thee areas we highlighted for design interventions, I perused the creation of a safe and accessible resource for people who may be experiencing sexual violence and/or abuse.
Site map exploration
Three steps to access the resources and emergency contact on the app. An escape button is also always assessable to escape to the home screen for discretion.
Resources and emergency contact
Password protected journaling section
Flyer to be given to trusted facilities to educate on how to spread awareness of the app.
LEP Patient Communication
During our meetings with our collaborators at the SAFE center, they disclosed to us that about 50% of the center's patients are limited English proficiency. This led to the realization that there needed to be different ways for the staff to communicate with their patients.
This portion led by Iman Morsy, led to the creation of cons since icons can be recognizable despite the language you speak. By creating an icon system, the SAFE Center can provide easier navigation for its patients while also allowing them to feel in control.
As shown above, this icon system can be used in many different ways from applying it to walls, doors, and chairs, to also providing patients with cards to assist them along their journey and time at the SAFE center.