Newbury Park, CA – April 26, 2018… Working with
Virgin Hyperloop One, and the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai
(RTA), Designworks helped create a prototype design for the Dubai
hyperloop capsule. The design recently made its global debut at City
Walk Dubai as part of UAE Innovation Month. This is the first time a
physical, full-scale hyperloop prototype has been shown to a broad
public audience.
Once built, the passenger capsule, electromagnetically propelled
through a vacuum tube, could reach speeds up to 1,080km/h, potentially
traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in as little as 12 minutes. Virgin
Hyperloop One is currently negotiating the next stage of development
(Phase 2) with the RTA with the clear aim of building the world’s
first hyperloop transportation system in the UAE / Middle East.
Designing for the future of mobility.
Building upon extensive design experience across public and personal
transport projects and a firm focus on the future mobility landscape,
Designworks played a crucial role as Virgin Hyperloop One’s design
partner, offering critical thought leadership and concepts to create
the prototype’s visual identity and interior passenger experience.
"With the Virgin Hyperloop One design, we wanted to create a new
visual expression for a new mode of public transportation" says
Designworks LA Studio Design Director, Johannes Lampela.
The central challenge the Designworks team faced was how to create a
comfortable and engaging interior with no windows, and a current
requirement for passengers to be seated throughout the journey.
Designworks took what might at first glance be a very restrictive
environment and transformed it into a more personal and uplifting
sensory experience that can be both memorable and enjoyable.
Innovation with human-centric design.
The design concept suggested several ways of achieving this, through
multidirectional and personally-controlled light, digital displays,
and premium comfort - creating a sense of individualized space for
each passenger. In first class, for example, adjustable leather seats
feature touchscreens for personal settings for light brightness and
color, allowing passengers to shift the light from blue to pink to set
the mood. The seats include integrated heating and cooling. Passengers
could enjoy personalized entertainment through built-in displays. In
this way, the concept could create a more sophisticated and
user-centered spatial experience that transcends the typical
utilitarian notion of public transportation. Floor lighting is also
aesthetically used to double as wayfinding.
To further enrich the passenger experience, designers took
inspiration from traditional Arabic patterns, taking care to create
intentional and relatable cultural references while also applying a
more futuristic and progressive interpretation. The design is thus
anchored in the cultural legacy of the kingdom while acknowledging its
contemporary achievements and aspirations.
The Virgin Hyperloop One prototype is another example of Designworks’
forward-looking approach to inventing the future of transportation and
imagining the potential for new modes of mobility.
About BMW Group Designworks
BMW Group Designworks is a creative consultancy that has been driving
innovation for forty years. Acquired by BMW Group in 1995, Designworks
enables its parent company as well as internationally-renowned clients
outside the automotive industry to grow their businesses through
design and a portfolio of creative consulting services. With clients
including Coca Cola, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, HEAD, HP,
Intermarine, John Deere, Microsoft, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART),
Siemens and Varian Medical Systems, Designworks is deeply immersed in
a broad cross-section of industries.
www.bmwgroupdesignworks.com
About Virgin Hyperloop One
Virgin Hyperloop One is the only company in the world that has built
a fully operational hyperloop system. Our team has the world's leading
experts in engineering, technology, and transport project delivery,
working in tandem with global partners and investors to make hyperloop
a reality, now. Virgin Hyperloop One is backed by key investors
including DP World, Caspian VC Partners, Virgin Group, Sherpa Capital,
Abu Dhabi Capital Group, SNCF, GE Ventures, Formation 8, 137 Ventures,
WTI, among others. For more information, visit www.virginhyperloopone.com.