HPSC Recovery Map

Case Study Overview

About this Project

The HPSC (High Performance Sport Centre) is the central hub for sports medicine, science research, and training, operated by the Japan Sport Council (JSC), an independent administrative agency.

HPSC has multiple facilities for athletes to manage their condition, offering a variety of methods and equipment to help athletes compete at their best.

However, information about each facility was fragmented and disorganized, making it difficult for athletes to quickly determine "where they could access methods suited to their objectives."

In recent years, while attention to recovery (the multifaceted process of physiological and psychological recovery over time) for maintaining and improving athlete performance has grown, there's still a lack of sufficient knowledge regarding "what is truly effective and how to incorporate it." This background raised questions about the appropriate way to provide scientifically-backed information.

The initial request was to create a document based on the provided materials that would "guide athletes to scientifically-backed recovery methods by providing facility information." However, through discussions, it became clear that the core issue was not simply organizing information, but enabling athletes to actively select and access recovery methods according to their own condition and objectives.

The "Recovery Map" was created as a result of this process.

This document was designed as an A3 spread brochure to intuitively help athletes decide "what they can do, where, and for what purpose," aiming to elevate it from a simple facility guide to an "athlete's decision-making guide."

The Recovery Map consists of two sheets: an objective-based sheet and a facility-based sheet.

The objective-based sheet organizes various methods such as diet, sleep, hot water bathing, cold water bathing, massage, foam rolling, aerobic exercise, cryotherapy, sauna, and vibration therapy across seven objective axes: "pain reduction," "fatigue reduction," "power recovery," "muscle strength recovery," "flexibility improvement," "improved sleep onset," and "resting the body." The scientific evidence for each method is also indicated in three levels.

The facility-based sheet provides a quick overview of each facility's equipment, reservation requirements, and whether it is paid or free. Information for all facilities—JISS, NTC West, NTC East, and Athlete Village—is consolidated into one sheet for easy comprehension.

The key design points for this document are as follows:

① Elevation from facility guide to decision-making guide
We designed a structure that allows athletes to search for methods based on their objectives—"what they want to achieve"—rather than just presenting information such as "what facilities are available" or "what scientific evidence exists." This expanded the nature of the document from merely presenting information to serving as a map for athletes to make their own judgments.

② Addition of a three-level scientific evidence rating
We proposed indicating the certainty of scientific evidence for each recovery method in three levels: high, medium, and low. By embedding the attitude of "choosing methods that suit them while understanding the certainty of the evidence," rather than "not using something because the evidence is low," we designed the document to empower athletes to use it proactively.

③ Proposal of a two-tiered structure: objective-based and facility-based
Recognizing that people access information differently, we proposed a two-tiered structure: one sheet for "finding methods from objectives" and another for "checking equipment from facilities." This design ensures that both individuals with clear recovery objectives and those who prefer to start by exploring facilities can find the necessary information.

④ Addition of a 4-step usage guide
Beyond organizing information, we illustrated the document's usage itself in four steps. This careful design of the entry point ensures that athletes using the document for the first time can navigate it without confusion.

It is expected that the "Recovery Map" created will promote the appropriate use of HPSC facilities and raise awareness of the importance of recovery. Designing an interface that connects objective data from scientific evidence with athletes' subjective sense of purpose has been a significant and rewarding endeavor in transforming sports science knowledge into practical value.


【Production Cooperation】Graphic Designer Ami Ozawa

※This project was implemented as part of the "HPSC Infrastructure Reinforcement Project Utilizing Advanced Technology," commissioned by the Japan Sports Agency.