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Safeway Guide exit sign projecting a green evacuation direction in a low-light emergency scenario.

SAFEWAY GUIDE

IoT-enabled emergency guidance system for dynamic evacuation

Individual Project • 2023 • Product Design • Conceptual Design

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Role

SAFEWAY GUIDE

Context

Duration

Methods

Award

Individual Project2023

Problem Analysis, Concept Design,User Scenario, System Mapping,

Safeway Guide is an IoT-enabled emergency exit system that helps people find safer evacuation routes during emergencies. Unlike traditional static exit signs, it senses environmental changes in real time and updates the direction of guidance based on the safest available path.

The project explores how product design and smart systems can work together to make emergency navigation more responsive, intuitive, and reliable.

Traditional emergency exit signs usually provide fixed directions, even when the danger source changes. In unpredictable situations such as fire or smoke, a static route may lead people toward unsafe areas.

Safeway Guide responds to this problem by using connected exit signs and environmental sensors. The system collects safety data, evaluates the surrounding conditions, and displays updated escape directions to guide people toward safer routes.

🏆10th "Academy Award" National Art and Design Competition 

🏆Asia Youth Rookie Awards 

🏆Asia College Student Creative Design Competition 

Product DesignConcept Development

·Fixed evacuation direction

·Transform static signs into responsive guidance

·No awareness of fire, smoke, or blocked paths

·Use sensors to identify changing danger zones

·Limited guidance in dynamic emergency situations

·Provide clearer direction toward safer evacuation routes

Problem Statement

Emergency exits provide a rapid and direct evacuation route, enabling people within the building to evacuate quickly in case of emergencies. Although the building regulations of most countries and regions explicitly require a certain number of emergency exits, specifying their size, location, and signage, in unpredictable emergencies like fires, traditional emergency exit indication systems often provide only static guidance, neglecting real-time changes in the source of danger, sometimes even misleading people into more hazardous areas.

BackGroud Research

System Logic

Traditional static green exit sign.
Safeway Guide concept sketch.

Traditional Exit Sign

Design Opportunity

IoT system diagram connecting sensors, exit signs and a central system.

IoT enables these smart devices to communicate with each other and with other internet-enabled devices. Creating a vast network of interconnected devices that can exchange data and perform various tasks autonomously.

Using IoT Technology

Product Structure

Scroll to discover what’s inside.

Select a layer to explore the assembly.

Inside Safeway Guide

One system. Six layers.

From the outer shell to the electronics inside. Scroll to open the assembly, or select a layer to look closer.

Material / component
Explore the assembly
Select a layer for component and material notes.

AI-assisted concept visualization. Materials pending confirmation.

Continue

Front and rear product renders showing the exit display and mounting bracket.
Two slim Safeway Guide display configurations.

Display Panel

Display Panel

Rear view showing the bracket, mounting slot, and compact connection port.

A slimmer and more portable form that supports flexible placement in different spaces.

Safety Guide

It is not limited to natural emergencies like fires but is also applicable to man-made urgent situations such as terrorist attacks. By inputting specific danger information, the system can plan safe routes and warn of hazardous areas.

The road ahead is clear of hazards; Display the 'Proceed' sign.

The road ahead is hazardous; display the 'Do Not Proceed' danger sign.

Safe route scenario with a green proceed projection.
Hazardous route scenario with a red warning projection.

Dynamic Route Planning

Normal guidanceThe nearest available exit is on the east side.Concept simulation
  • Your Current Location
  • Compromised Emergency Exits
  • Recommended Emergency Exits
  • Safety Icon
  • Dangerous Path
  • Safety Path
  • Exit Sign
  • Fire Area

Before

After

The road ahead is clear of hazards; Display the 'Proceed' sign.

In an emergency, if a fire breaks out on the left side of the road, the 'Safeway Guide' projection indicates to escape to the right.

Original evacuation scene before the hazard changes.
Updated direction projected after a fire blocks the left route.
Close-up of the Safeway Guide exit display.

Safeway Guide

Individual Project • 2023 • Product Design • Conceptual Design

© 2026 Louis Wu. All rights reserved.

Design Value

Hazard Awareness

Clear Visual Communication

✓High-visibility exit display

✓Directional arrow guidance

✓Easy to understand under stress

✓Detects fire, smoke, and blocked paths

✓Responds to changing environments

✓Supports safer decision-making

Real-Time Guidance

✓Dynamic evacuation direction

✓Route updates based on danger

✓Reduces misleading guidance