What makes us feel safe?

"What makes us feel safe" is a question I had been posing for the last week, but any response from my directed storytelling, or informal interviews seemed too vague and general for my liking (i.e. light & police patrols). I was going to begin my own survey, but felt any these responses would likely lack the desired insights.

So why waste time?

Instead I decided to dig deeper in the human physche, using literature reviews to explain and put into words what my research participants probably had floating around in their subconsciousness.

Through looking at magazines, thesis' , and articles, I compliled a comprehensive gathering of "What makes us feel Safe", as well as a few interesting stats and quotes I can use for my reasoning while presenting my solutions.

The following will help/affect a person's feeling of safety:

-Human Presence (in any environment)

-Having "Eyes on Street" watching them (i.e. hotel doorman)

-Light (more specifically LED lights that increase visibility for recognition and surveillance systems)

-Words of Advice (safety tips from local guards)

-A Calming Presence (escort service)

These "cheat codes" to creating a sense of percieved safety will act as grounding in persuasion for my solution implementation, and become guidelines and inspiration for myself as I continue ideating.

References:

"Student Perceptions of Campus Safety at the University of Mary Washington"

Cassandra L. Ratti, April 2010

Department of Geography, University of Mary Washington

"Street Lighting and Perceptions of Safety"

Survey, Nov 2013

www.suzylamplugh.org

"Saint-Denis Paranoid"

M the World Magazine

Louise Couvelaire

Updated 10/12/2013

Viewed 14/03/2016

www.lemonde.fr

"Standing Sentry"

Ruth Ford

Habitat Magazine Issue #201 May 2004

pg 24 - 32