KIKOALE

“KIKOALE” is a safety megaphone designed to transform the speaker’s voice so that it clearly reaches drinkers’ ears even in the noisy environments of izakayas, bars, and other venues that serve alcohol. As part of a disaster-prevention awareness project by YOHO BREWING Co., Ltd., which focuses on safety during drinking, a concept model of an electronic emergency megaphone for drinking establishments—“KIKOALE”—was designed. MEDUM was responsible for the entire process, from developing the design concept to product design, structural and optical design, and model fabrication. In everyday situations, it functions as a warm, lantern-like object that blends naturally into the interior atmosphere of a venue. In emergencies, it instantly transforms into a megaphone. Designed as a form of preparedness that fits seamlessly into everyday spaces, it embodies a safety tool that is always present “just in case.” “KIKOALE” is equipped with a function that converts the voice into a higher pitch containing frequency components between 3,500 Hz and 5,000 Hz, making it easier for drinkers to hear even amid loud background noise. The built-in light on the megaphone can also be used to draw attention to the speaker in dark conditions such as power outages, or as a guiding light for evacuation. By using this “voice-calling megaphone” together with the Earthquake Disaster Prevention Guidelines for Drinking Establishments, which compile appropriate verbal instructions, the system supports reliable safety measures in situations where panic is likely to occur. This concept model was jointly developed by the Japan Acoustic Laboratory, Noboru Electric, TBWA\HAKUHODO, and quantum.

Client

Yoho Brewing Company

Year

2026

Category