1996 I. D. International Design Distinction Award

"I think this product is really important," said Bourne of Johnsonite’s Safe-T-First self-illuminating continuous escape path system, which she praised for integrating design with life safety issues.

"Getting people out of smoke-filled environments is a really big problem. I don’t know about anything else like this on the market, and for that reason alone it should be commended." Added Edwards, "The concept is so simple and cost effective, it’s a wonder that this stuff isn’t everywhere." Though Jackson wondered whether a product of this nature really belongs in a design competition ("This is more of a facilities issue," he maintained), his fellow jurors over-ruled him in consideration of the necessity of such less-than-glamorous interior products. The concept behind Safe-T-First is to let architects, designers and specifiers coordinate flooring and accessories with color-matched self-illuminating path-guiding elements, which function without electricity to lead building occupants to safety during fires, earthquakes, bombings and power failures. The range of photoluminescent Safe-T-first components includes wall base strips, stair treads, stair nosings, carpet caps, bumper guards, guidance strips, floor tile, sheet vinyl, signage, paint and tapes.

The Johnsonite Safe-T-First(TM) system featuring Permalight® tedchnology was featured in the I.D. 42nd Annual Design Review with the editorial as it appeared above. The SAFE-T-FIRST System was recognized with a 1996 I. D. Design Distinction Award. Design Review jorors quoter above are:

Agnes Bourne, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the San Francisco Art Institute and the Corporate Design Foundation; Thomas M. Edwards, owner and principal of Design Allegro contract furniture design firm based in Spring Lake, Michigan and assistant professor of inductrial design at Kendall College of Art & Design; Dakota Jackson, designer of residential and contract furniture for such varied clients as Yoko Ono, Robert DeNiro, Walt Disney Studios, Revlon and Francesco Scavullo. Jackson has a licensing agreement with Lane furniture.

Courtesy of I.D. Magazine.