Story: “A Commute with NeuroRoutes”
It’s early. The station is quiet, almost empty, and a lone passenger enters, pausing for a moment at the top of the escalator. As she begins to descend, something on the walls either side catches her eye. Bold text stretches across large posters: “Lost in the Underground? You’re not alone.” Below it, smaller text reads: “Grab your dyslexia survival kit and merch today to help you confidently navigate the chaos.” At the bottom, a gentle prompt: “Look out for the NeuroRoutes stand.”
Next to the poster, a vibrant animated panel plays on loop. It shows illustrated figures, bright, diverse, and expressive, travelling calmly down an escalator, just like her. The NeuroRoutes logo pulses gently on the screen. There's a sense of calm built into the colour, motion, and design. She smiles slightly, this doesn’t feel like the usual noise of tube advertising.
As she reaches the bottom and begins walking through the tunnel, more posters appear. They're dotted all along the curved walls, left, right, staggered like wayfinding breadcrumbs. Each one carries a variation of the message: inviting, humorous, and strangely reassuring. It almost feels like the tunnel is leading her somewhere. She follows them, curious.
She rounds the final corner, and there it is. The NeuroRoutes pop-up stand. Small, suitcase-style, well-organised. A handmade quality to it, but clearly intentional. She walks up. She's forgotten her earplugs and the station is getting louder; the stand seems to know what she needs. A friendly face behind the table explains what’s in the “Surviving the Underground” kit. Earplugs. Visual maps. A checklist. Confidence.
A moment later, she leaves the stand, kit in hand. Ready for her platform. Ready for the noise. Ready for the journey.