Safety Semiotics
Designing visual and tactile cues for trust and responsibility in mobility
M.S. Westhoff (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
E.D. van Grondelle – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
W. Franklin – Mentor
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Abstract
This report investigates how Colour, Material and Finish (CMF) design can enhance both actual and perceived safety within automotive interiors, with a specific focus on the European market and the brand context of Škoda Auto within the Volkswagen Group. It begins by establishing the theoretical foundation of perceptual safety, exploring how colour, materiality, texture, pattern, form language, and cultural context influence how safety is interpreted. Particular attention is given to CMF as a semantic design tool that translates abstract values such as protection, trust, and reassurance into tangible sensory cues. Exploratory visual research, including material boarding, image analysis, and AI-generated form studies, further examines how safety is constructed and perceived before isolating tactile influence.