What it does
The one-touch descending device is designed for easy use during a fire. Color-linked UI & one-touch guide actions intuitively, solving support complexity. The car seat-style belt reduces wearing errors and psychological anxiety during descent.
Your inspiration
In 2024, South Korea saw 37,614 fire cases with 2,391 casualties, including 303 deaths. These numbers reflect serious safety concerns, not just statistics. Descending life lines are essential for evacuation, but a tragic hotel fire where seven people couldn’t escape due to misuse exposed flaws in current devices. A study also found 65% of people don’t know if such devices are installed at their home or work, and over 80% have never used one. This made me realize the need for an intuitive, easy-to-use descending device. I designed a simplified, safer version to help anyone escape quickly.
How it works
When a fire is detected by a smoke sensor, an alarm and voice guide notify users of the location. The One-touch descending device features an integrated support installation using a lever. Unlike conventional supports requiring separate operations along different axes, the new design combines both steps into one. Moving the yellow lever along a semicircular path lowers the front cover vertically, creating space for the support to unfold. The first support extends outward at a right angle using a 2-bar linkage, and pulling the lever activates a slide linkage that unfolds the second support and extends it outside the window. All components are pre-connected to the support and stored behind the lowered cover. The transparent, heat-resistant cover lets users check components before using the reel and belt. The improved car seat-style belt, with a familiar wearing method and inertia-locking retractor, ensures quick fitting, and safer descent than underarm belts.
Design process
In this project, a timeline-based behavioral observation was conducted with five trained and five untrained participants using the descending device. The results showed that even trained users hesitated during support installation and made errors with the belt. Most untrained users failed to properly fix the support or wear the belt. Post-interviews confirmed these issues, as many stated that fixing the support was difficult despite the instructions, and the belt made them feel unsafe, making descent difficult. The observation also revealed inefficient behavior, such as placing the device on the floor to connect components. To resolve these problems, we applied a pre-connected structure and a linkage system to simplify installation without environmental limitations. For the belt, the study revealed rope tangling, fitting errors, and unstable weight distribution, increasing the risk of falling. We developed a car seat-style belt with wide back support to enhance stability and safety. Prototype tests confirmed the belt allowed for quick, intuitive wearing, improved posture, and a stable descent. Based on user behavior, we continuously refined the design and conducted repeated testing to improve reliability and usability in emergencies.
How it is different
This product presents an original design that solves the structural limitations of conventional descending devices and improves the entire evacuation process based on user experience. Traditional devices require users to operate separate components individually, making them difficult to use in emergencies. In contrast, this product integrates all steps—support installation, belt wearing, and descent—into a single, continuous motion. It also applies a color-coded and visually guided system that intuitively leads users through the process. As a result, even untrained individuals can easily understand the device's structure and intended operation through visual cues, ensuring quick and safe use. This approach is fundamentally different from existing products, as it focuses on solving real user difficulties by prioritizing intuitive interaction and minimizing psychological hesitation.
Future plans
This product has completed basic structural and usability improvements through user testing. The next steps are divided into two phases. First, additional tests with various age groups and body types will be conducted to further verify belt comfort, support installation, and intuitive use. Second, prototypes will be applied in analogous emergency sites to evaluate performance in real-life-like situations. Based on these tests, the stability of the support structure, including the descent process, will be finalized. The goal is to develop "universal design" descending device to evacuate independently and safely, without prior training.
Awards
2025 International Busan Design Award (ibda) - idea prize
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