A design response to the escalating opioid trauma incidents in the US, the Sora System, developed by a team of emergency physicians and industrial designers, is a surface-mounted rescue cabinet that functions as a practical public intervention.
Each Sora unit contains essential lifesaving tools, such as naloxone (proven to reverse opioid overdoses) and bleeding control kits (to stabilize trauma victims until EMTs arrive), neatly organized within a modular aluminum cabinet. The cabinet's modular structure allows for flexibility in content while ensuring durability in outdoor and urban settings. Its front panel is magnetically secured, designed for intuitive, tool-free access in emergencies, while a tactile ridge guides the hand toward an easy-to-grasp pull tab—critical under stress or for those with limited dexterity. The kits are monitored to ensure they are accessible and present to people in a moment of crisis.
Sora’s visual language is intentionally non-threatening: soft blue tones, rounded edges, and clear iconography to calm rather than alarm. Inside, color-coded trays and instructional labels minimize hesitation and promote confident action—even for untrained responders. QR codes link users to real-time guidance, blending analog design with digital support. The instruction guides are designed to increase the likelihood and readiness of bystander support with the inclusion of ‘just-in-time’ instructions.
Sora transforms public infrastructure into an organized, simple-to-administer, human-centered emergency response – increasing the accessibility of rescue assets and ability of bystanders to intervene.
