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K&E Featured in Safety Journal

The industry-leading safety media Safety Journal recently featured an article in its July issue titled “Nudge Design”, highlighting one of the core principles of industrial safety design—nudging behavior. The column introduces the concept and various applications of nudge design in safety, including a real-world case study by K&E as part of the Korea Design Promotion Institute’s “Safety Service Design” project.

Nudge design softly guides people toward safer choices without enforcement. Originally derived from the economic concept of “nudge”—literally meaning to “poke” or “gently steer”—this tactic is widely used in behavioral economics to influence decision-making.

The column presents diverse everyday examples of nudge design, such as

Amsterdam Airport installing fly decals in urinals, reducing splatter by 80%,

floor markings used during COVID‑19 to encourage social distancing.

These serve to illustrate that such design interventions can be highly effective in enhancing safety—even more so in high-risk industrial environments, where design isn’t mere decoration but a practical tool for influencing worker behavior.

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K&E’s Nudge-Driven Safety Design in Action

In Safety Journal, K&E’s contribution—a “Safety Response Zone” design—is showcased:

At the time, the worksite was equipped with fire extinguishers and personal protective equipment (PPE), but they were not easily visible or familiar to workers. PPE usage was also low, leading to ongoing safety risks.

In response, K&E:

① Integrated fire extinguishers, PPE storage, and first-aid kits into a single “Safety Response Zone”,

② Applied shape- and color-based design elements for intuitive identification,

③ Posted clear visual guides for each item to support quick and intuitive response in emergencies.

This design was recognized by the Korea Design Promotion Institute as a representative outcome of safety service design, offering clear and easy-to-understand safety information through the use of form and color. It has been evaluated as an effective case in improving safety culture by enabling workers to quickly perceive information and make correct decisions in emergencies.

K&E shared its motivation for participating in the project:

“K&E is a precision press manufacturer constantly exposed to risk. Although we had installed various safety signs and posters, they often failed to stand out. Given the mixed space of forklifts, machinery, and foot traffic, it was urgent to build a solid safety infrastructure—especially with a new factory opening ahead.”

Through collaboration with design experts, K&E implemented safety signage that was more visually clear and understandable from the user’s perspective. As a result, employees gave positive feedback, stating:

‘The new design is much more noticeable and raises awareness.’

“Safety service design is like ‘clothing.’ We often get used to its appearance and forget its protective function. But safety design is a core element in protecting workers and creating a secure working environment. We will continue to prioritize safety and build design infrastructure accordingly.”

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Finally

K&E achieved practical improvements in 10 areas, including fire response, PPE usage, traffic separation, and visual communication.

The column emphasizes that nudging should go beyond visual effect—it must be a starting point for changing perceptions and attitudes toward safety, with verified effectiveness and clear direction.

In line with this, K&E is creating practical, intuitive designs based on workers’ lines of sight and behavioral patterns—not just for show, but to bring real change to on-site safety.

We will continue to lead in building safer industrial environments grounded in a human-centered design philosophy.

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Source

Safety Journal, July 2025 issue, “Nudge Design” by Myung‑soo Yeom (INX Co., design consultant)

Korea Design Promotion Institute · Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, THE Safety – Building Safer Industrial Complexes Through Service Design

COVID-era floor marking at the National Museum of Korea. (Photo credit: Newsis)