HSE

Visual Safety Communication: Safety campaign designed for a multilingual workforce. A custom pictogram system communicates hazards and procedures without relying on text, supported by outdoor signage and promotional items.

HSE Design * Safety Campaign * Pictogram Design * Icon Design * Signage Design * Outdoor Signage * Branded Merchandise * Visual Communication * Graphic Design

Purpose:

Africa Data Centres were expanding their facilities during COVID, but accidents and site incidents were affecting their safety record. They required a clear Health, Safety and Environment campaign, centred on branded site signage carrying practical safety information and reinforcing the company’s commitment to its workforce.

Key messages included ‘Africa Data Centres cares for you’ and the promotion of an accident-free working environment. A visible incident-free countdown was introduced, initially set at 14 days.

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Process:

The client’s initial brief was limited to standard safety posters carrying the Africa Data Centres logo. The only message outside the typical health and safety requirements was ‘Africa Data Centres cares for you’.

The campaign also included low-cost branded promotional items in yellow, such as lip balm, beanies, pies and cold drinks, designed to show care for staff wellbeing.

To make the campaign feel more personal, especially during the COVID-19 period, I created a strong, approachable mascot for use across signage. Wearing a safety vest and hard hat, the mascot was designed to be both recognizable as a brand mascot and relatable to site workers.

The signs needed to communicate effectively from a distance and across different languages (we have 11 official languages). My designs used simple, flat colours and bold visual elements, including recognizable symbols and pictograms. This also ensured they could be reproduced effectively on metal signs using screen printing.

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Proof:

I added a thought bubble and a purple heart to make the message ‘Africa Data Centres cares for you’ more relatable. Client liked the heart concept so much that the purple heart was later embroidered onto promotional beanies.

As the campaign proved effective, the target increased to 21 days and later 30 days without an incident. The full suite of posters and materials was retained and is reused throughout subsequent data centre extensions and expansions.

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