Functional Forms

Creating new innovative forms to make transport more accessible

This trend is all about democratising good design. There is a growing desire to address the exclusionary nature of design for those with disabilities. Furthermore, the pressures of a population with increasing numbers of people living with dementia and other chronic conditions are forcing a range of sectors and industries to enact change to ensure people live healthier for longer.

Moving beyond current standards, companies are leveraging innovations in material design, manufacturing techniques and technology to create new forms which enable greater accessibility for all.

© Anne Nygard

MICRO TREND

‘After a month of wearing the shoes, mostly around my flat and the local park because of the UK’s lockdown, I have been converted. They’re comfortable, feel stable, and the hinge has worked seamlessly pretty much every time.’

Matt Burgess, Senior Writer, Wired

CASE STUDY Stepping Into Change

How shoes are put on and secured has experienced little change in the past century. Still dominated by lacing systems and straps, users without the dexterity or flexibility demanded by such systems have had to experience exclusionary alternatives or inconvenient workarounds.

Nike has recently challenged this standard with their Go FlyEase shoe, launched globally in 2021. The shoe features an innovative bi-stable hinge design which means the user can put on the shoe without using their hands82 . When bent in half, a wide opening allows the user to step into the shoe, which envelopes their foot. To take them off, the wearer steps on the heel of the shoe and lifts out their foot. All of this, accompanied by an aesthetic that is in keeping with Nike’s design identity, gives people access to their popular style.

CASE STUDY ASIT brings flexibility to public transport

As China experiences further growth of people with disabilities, current accessibility issues will exacerbate. Chinese officials have made moves to improve the accessibility of public transport, with nearly eight in ten buses serving urban areas in Beijing having been upgraded into “barrierfree vehicles” as of April 2021. Beijing Public Transport Corporation (BPTC) operates a total of 23,800 buses and trams, of which 12,265 are equipped with wheelchair ramps83, accounting for 78.12% of all buses serving urban areas of Beijing. However, the design of the buses - although more accessible than before - fail to address the needs of an increasing number of disabled citizens.

Product design student Hang Tat Henry Hui of Hong Kong Polytechnic University has created a concept that addresses this challenge. The Asit bus concept 84includes a wider door, an extendable ramp, inside facing seats and a fully autonomous driving system. Interior space is maximised by placing the stairs close to the door, allowing for swifter movement of passengers on and off the bus.

Electronic seats on the bus serve two functions; firstly, providing older adults and disabled individuals with an assistive feature that helps them sit down and stand up. Secondly, the system gives the bus flexibility, allowing different mobility solutions to board the bus, meaning multiple wheelchair users can be on the bus at one time. This approach helps make capacity more flexible, ensuring accessible buses can operate at all times.

© Hang Tat Henry Hui

$690 Million

The number of times shared bikes were used in Beijing during 2020

[Beijing Municipal Commission of Transportation]

© Cathy Wong

CASE STUDY Shared Mobility Made Inclusive

‘Last mile’ mobility solutions such as bike shares are prevalent across Chinese cities. In early 2018, there were an estimated 23 million shared bicycles across China85, and although new rules86 have been introduced to regulate oversupply and artificial growth, the market remains popular. Shared bikes were used 690 million times in Beijing during 2020, with the daily average number of bike-share trips reaching approximately 1.89 million, an increase of 13.4% compared with 2019.

Further to this, electric bicycles have proven just as popular. According to data collected by Hellobike, a bike-sharing company, nearly 300 million rides per day were completed on conventional bikes across China in 2019. More than twice as many journeys were on electric bicycles and electric scooters that year - 700 million rides a day87 .

Additionally, in the past two years, the number of cyclists over 60 years old in Shanghai has increased by more than 40%88. The popularity of shared mobility services in urban China is clear, but many do not accommodate the needs of older adults.

Stria is a concept shared mobility solution89 designed by Hong Kong-based product and industrial designer Cathy Wong, which looks to meet the needs of an ageing population. The electric vehicle is configurable, with four modes available; Sport, Commute, Support, and Companion.

The Sport mode positions the device in a skateboard style form allowing users to engage maximum speed and control while riding on the streets. Commute mode forms a more casual scooter like stance for improved stability. The Support mode is designed for older adults, featuring thigh-leaning support to help reduce body fatigue amongst older adults and those with disabilities. Finally, the companion mode acts as a prop while walking.