Encouraging sustainable urban access: An exploratory student approach to design of product service systems

Alexandros Nikitas, Ulrike Rahe, Toni Matti Karjalainen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Urban access is a key trans-disciplinary design axiom looking to ensure that every member of the society can reach those locations and resources one needs for a sustainable standard of living and productivity. This should be achieved in a way that does not deprive others from their right to access the same urban environment. Crafting the future of urban transportation design is a dynamic process that depends on developing a thorough understanding of the complexity of the human needs that associate with delivering ways to support urban access and, in particular, more sustainable and socially inclusive mobility patterns. New market demands and customer expectations force public and private organisations to expand their commitment to cross-border collaborations to provide attractive alternative transport modes. This paper discusses the challenge of utilizing design innovation as a tool for eco-branding and how an exploratory approach to this has been used in a post-graduate course in Visual Brand Identity and Product Design. Seven research teams, closely guided by the authors, were affiliated with designing an innovative hypothetical bike-sharing scheme for the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, with the potential to captivate road users' acceptability. An overall description of the project concept and a brief summary of the results produced are presented herein. More specifically, this paper concentrates solely on one of the most innovative projects delivered within the course and discusses how the students adopted the challenge, as well as the actual project outcome and its contribution to the overall learning experience.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 15th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (Dublin, 5-6 September 2013)
Subtitle of host publicationDesign Education - Growing Our Future, EPDE 2013
EditorsErik Bohemia, William Ion, Ahmed Kovacevic, John Lawlor, Mark McGrath, Chris McMahon, Brian Parkinson, Ger Reilly, Michael Ring, Robert Simpson, David Tormey
PublisherThe Design Society
Pages786-791
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781904670421
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event15th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education: Design Education - Growing Our Future - Dublin, Ireland
Duration: 5 Sep 20136 Sep 2013
Conference number: 15

Conference

Conference15th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education
Abbreviated titleEPDE 2013
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityDublin
Period5/09/136/09/13

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