Minz realizes a picture book with mascot for children for SLRG

The goal: to impart knowledge about safety on, in and around the water - and to prevent swimming accidents.

According to the drowning statistics of the SLRG, around 50 people drown in Switzerland every year. Among children, drowning is even the second most common cause of death. In addition to this alarming fact, there are even more numerous cases of near drowning, which sometimes have serious consequences for the further life of those affected. The SLRG is convinced that most water accidents could be avoided - and is taking action.

Messages for lifesavers, implemented in a child-friendly way

After a selection process, the Lucerne agency for visual communication was commissioned with the realization of the nationwide prevention campaign. At the beginning, a mascot was to be created. "It soon became clear that it would be a water gnome. The fascinating thing about creating such a character is working out the details and thus his personality," says Susann Blum, owner of Minz. "What does this gnome do, what does he look like, what is his nature, how does he move, how is he dressed? For all these decisions, we also worked closely with children, in direct exchanges and with targeted surveys. All of this made the process not only exceedingly interesting, but also very fun."

A children's book about water safety

"A mascot finds access to children through its character, its story. So we invented not only Milu the elf, but also his own adventure and told it in a 40-page picture book," says Susann Blum. She wrote the text herself. The book is suitable for storytelling using the pictures as well as for reading aloud.

Experts united

The project was accompanied by experts such as the well-known Lucerne illustrator Felice Bruno. He was involved from the concept phase and brought Milu, the water gnome, to life and created all the illustrations.

The photographs were realized by the Lucerne photographer Matthias Jurt together with the 10-year-old amateur model Levin. Thanks to the photographer's imagination, the images blend harmoniously with the painted illustrations.

The overall graphic design is a collaboration of the designers at Minz. In a very unique graphic language, they combined the photographic image elements with the illustrations.

Trollhauser GmbH in Lucerne, namely Matthias Troller, provided editorial support for the project: "It needs language that is suitable for children and can definitely take a joke. And: The text must work well for reading aloud - and also for narration in dialect," says Matthias Troller.

Successful publication

At the end of June, the picture book was published by the Lehrmittelverlag des Kantons Luzern - just in time for the hot bathing weather; demand is correspondingly high. It can be ordered at www.slrg.ch / other products / picture book MILU at the price of Fr. 18.00.

The introduction of the new mascot Milu together with the launch of the picture book is the first step of the SLRG prevention campaign. Furthermore, a comprehensive teaching material for primary to secondary level II will be published, which corresponds to the curriculum 21. Of course, Milu, the water gnome, will play a major role in it.