Debes Intervenir: A Comic-Inspired Campaign for Workplace Safety

Using the Power of Comics to Promote Safety

The Debes Intervenir campaign, designed by Eduardo Walles under the tApp agency, takes a colorful and exciting path into the world of comics to generate awareness and promote safety in the workplace. The campaign focuses on representing both the correct and incorrect use of tools and facilities, emphasizing the critical moments when something is about to go wrong.

What sets Debes Intervenir apart is its comic-inspired graphic style, which creates a friendly and approachable bond with workers. The use of illustrations allows for a more direct and understandable link to the message, making it easier for employees to digest and internalize safety instructions.

The tApp team utilized Adobe Animate to create the organic and loose strokes characteristic of comics, while also ensuring the illustrations were vectorized for a high-quality finish. For composition, adjustment, color, masks, assembly, and output, they worked in Adobe Photoshop.

The Debes Intervenir campaign consists of posters measuring 900mm x 600mm, with a depth of 50mm, made from styrene. The project was carried out from September to November 2016 in CDMX.

Prior to the campaign's realization, the tApp team conducted extensive research on comics, bullet handling, textual language, colors, and character design. They aimed to find the perfect balance between direct messaging and persuasive visuals to effectively communicate safety instructions in a work environment.

One of the main challenges faced by the tApp team was finding the right comic style and character design. Numerous rounds of selection and refinement were carried out, both internally and with the client, to ensure every detail was polished and contributed to the overall message.

The Debes Intervenir campaign has been highly successful, raising awareness among employees and reducing the number of incidents in the workplace. The phrase "Debes Intervenir" (You must intervene) has become a conventional instruction, reminding workers to take an active role in maintaining a safe environment.

The Debes Intervenir campaign by Eduardo Walles was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category in 2020. This prestigious award recognizes the campaign's well-designed, practical, and innovative approach to promoting workplace safety.