The Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Project background

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution are developing a portfolio of sustainable products, services and interventions that reduces the risk of drowning around the coast of the UK and ROI.

Design Out Drowning was a community led project supported by the RNLI. We were appointed to conduct research in the South West using a design-led approach to innovation.

We collaborated with design partners Amy Sergison, Matt Stone, Bethia Thomas and Arts University Bournemouth to learn more about drowning risks and challenges affecting coastal communities in Cornwall and Devon.

By observing behaviours and spending time with people from across the region, we unearthed new insights and developed a portfolio of design briefs to keep people safe at the coast and address local needs.

Insights

We categorised observations and stories into key topic areas for further exploration, for example:

• Not being aware of changing tides and rip currents,
• Overestimation of swimming ability in open or cold water,
• Coastal walking with dogs off leads wearing unsuitable clothing,
• Drinking alcohol,
• Mental ill health,
• Not reading / noticing the signs or listening to advice,
• Not wearing personal floatation devices,
• Showing off, blind belief and peer pressure.

These insights helped us to get a better understanding of key drowning risks and identify opportunities for interventions. 

Emerging design challenges

These are just a selection of the design challenges that emerged from our collaborative research process. The final set of design briefs were launched by the RNLI in early 2019.

Theme: Safety Communications and Signage

How might we reduce drowning by rethinking how and when we communicate safety messages?

Theme: Coastal Wellbeing

How might we promote positive mental wellbeing in waterside environments?

Theme: Safer Coastal Environments

How might we design environments that prevent intoxicated people from entering the water?