We enter our address when ordering dinner, calling a taxi or checking how long it will take us to reach our destination. In the project Does Risk Live at Your Home Address?, a few letters and numbers launch a very different kind of search: one that reveals how exposed our home is to floods, landslides, earthquakes and other natural hazards. An answer that until recently was scattered across expert databases and complex maps thus reaches the person to whom it matters most.
The idea gained particular significance following the devastating floods that struck Slovenia in 2023. Zavarovalnica Triglav did not want to tell people once again that risk exists, but to enable them to see what it means for their own home. The Risk Assessment Tool was created, combining data from various institutions, GIS systems and claims records and translating it into a clear assessment that can be understood within seconds. The communication concept and project idea were developed by the agency Herman & partnerji.
At BalCannes, the project won Gold in the Best Digital Product category, where a good slogan is not enough unless it is supported by a product that truly works. In the next instalment of the Behind the Winning Idea series, the team at Zavarovalnica Triglav reveals how millions of data points were given a simple user-friendly form, why the sales offer could not be allowed to stand between the user and trust, and what changes when communication stops merely warning people about a problem and puts a tool for understanding it into their hands.
Following the 2023 floods, the question of how well people understand their home’s exposure to natural hazards became especially urgent. Why did you look for the answer in a digital product rather than a traditional educational campaign?
The devastating floods of 2023 revealed a significant gap between actual natural disaster risks and people’s understanding of those risks. We realised that raising awareness alone was not enough. Traditional educational campaigns can inform people, but they rarely help them understand what risk means for their own home.
That is why we decided to develop a digital product that is unique in the Slovenian market. The Risk Assessment Tool provides every user with a personalised insight into their property’s exposure to key natural hazards. It transforms a complex societal issue into a simple, personal and practical experience, helping people make better-informed decisions about protecting their homes. Our goal was not merely to talk about risks, but to provide people with a free, tangible tool that empowers them to take action immediately.
By combining environmental and geolocation data from multiple sources, the tool gives users a simple assessment of natural hazards. What was most challenging about translating such a large volume of data into an understandable and useful experience?
The greatest challenge was simplifying highly complex environmental and geospatial data without losing credibility or accuracy. The solution combines official databases from the Slovenian Environment Agency, Geological Survey, Statistical Office and GIS systems with Zavarovalnica Triglav’s own claims data.
Users are not interested in technical datasets, probabilities or expert terminology. They want a clear answer: “How exposed is my home?” Our task was therefore to translate millions of data points into a simple three-level risk assessment, supported by intuitive visualisation and practical recommendations that anyone could understand within seconds.
The tool first gives users a risk assessment and then offers a path towards further information or insurance solutions. How did you shape that transition so that the commercial function would not undermine trust in the assessment itself?
Trust was the foundation of the entire project. From the very beginning, we designed the Risk Assessment Tool as a standalone and genuinely useful service rather than a sales channel. Users first receive a free, transparent and personalised risk assessment based on objective data.
The primary goal of the project was to raise public awareness about natural hazards and empower people to make better-informed decisions about protecting their homes. The commercial element was designed only as a natural continuation of the user journey for those interested in learning more or reviewing their insurance coverage, not as the project’s main purpose. By taking this approach, we wanted to address a broader societal challenge first, improve understanding of natural risks and promote preventive measures before introducing any potential insurance solutions.
Developing a product like this required bringing together specialist, technological, communications and user-experience perspectives. How were responsibilities divided among the teams involved, and at which stages of the project was their collaboration crucial?
The project required close cooperation between specialists from multiple disciplines. Insurance experts and risk specialists defined the methodology and risk logic. Data and technology teams integrated various geolocation and claims databases into a functional solution. User experience specialists designed an intuitive journey that simplified complex information, while communication experts developed the platform narrative and campaign strategy.
Collaboration was especially critical during two phases: first, when transforming expert risk models into a user-friendly experience, and second, when preparing communication that would motivate people to use the tool without creating fear. Success came from the combination of scientific credibility, technological excellence and human-centred design.
The project was never intended as a one-time awareness campaign, but as an ongoing service that helps people better understand risks and make informed decisions about protecting their homes.
Gold at BalCannes in the Best Digital Product category placed the focus on the product itself, not only the communication surrounding it. What did the project have to demonstrate to be recognised in this category, and has the award changed the way you view the agency’s role in developing services and user experiences?
To be recognised in the Best Digital Product category, the project had to demonstrate that it created genuine value through the product itself, not just through the communication surrounding it. The Risk Assessment Tool provides users with a practical and meaningful service that helps them better understand natural hazards and make informed decisions about protecting their homes.
Its value is reflected in both user engagement and measurable business results, including strong adoption rates, improved insurance coverage, growth in online sales, and numerous national and international awards. The recognition confirmed our belief that the most successful communication is created when a strong idea is paired with a truly useful solution. Agencies can deliver their most impactful work when clients simultaneously invest in developing products and services that provide real value. We believe that the best ideas do more than attract attention. They solve genuine challenges for users and society as a whole.
