Ideation and Inspiration
This project began from my direct experience at Lantmännen’s warehouse, where forklift accidents, fatigue, and poor visibility were daily risks. Inspired by smart fabrics and safety wearables, I focused on designing a vest that reminds workers to take timely breaks, reducing stress and errors in high-risk environments. Using user-centred design and the Double Diamond framework, I combined interviews, experiments, and literature to shape a solution tailored to real workers’ needs.
My Role
I researched workplace behaviour and break-taking practices, built and programmed the vest with LED, buzzer and Bluetooth trigger functions, and ran two user-testing rounds. I also designed the warehouse trigger layout and integrated feedback from workers to refine the device for comfort, ethics, and usability.
"The SafePaus Vest shows how simple, human-centred design can turn everyday routines into powerful safety habits."
Challenges & Solutions
The first version used a coffee-machine trigger and low-volume buzzer. After testing, I increased buzzer frequency and built a dual-Nano 33 BLE Bluetooth system to reliably activate the vest in designated break areas. Adding a front LED and delay feature made alerts clearer in noisy, dim spaces.
Creating the SafePaus Vest showed me how interaction design can directly improve workers’ lives. Turning interviews and field observations into a working safety device was intense, but rewarding seeing warehouse colleagues take it seriously proved the concept’s real impact.