Signals & Stats : Daily Signals

Communal commuting

By Rhiannon McGregor 20 : 03 : 2017 Ideo : Civic Brands : The Sharing Economy

London – Ideo has designed a shareable car concept that would help consumers to limit their impact on the environment.

The design is part of the agency’s long-term Future of Automobility project
The car has three modes – ride-sharing, car-sharing and private use

The Future of Moving Together by Ideo, London

In a promotional video for the concept, passengers are greeted by a screen on the front of the vehicle that shows seat availability, while four personal screens inside the vehicle enable each passenger to make video calls, display the expected arrival time and offer tips on meditative breathing.

Passengers in need of quiet can set their pods to private mode, which creates a visual barrier between them and their fellow passengers, and activates noise-cancelling technology. The car alters its appearance when a ride-sharing booking is made to make it easy for first-time travellers to identify it.

The concept was designed in response to research by the American Community Survey, which shows that 76% of US consumers travel alone using their personal vehicle, causing unnecessary harm to the environment and contributing to road congestion.

The Big Picture

The Ride-share Market is showing signs of renewed prosperity as designers propose new functions that go beyond the taxi format. For more on why brands will increasingly need to design products intended for use by multiple users, see our Civic Brands macrotrend.