Design for Our Future Selves awards 2005

user friendly

Michael Castellana / Vehicle Design

Winner of the Future Foundation Award for future thinking

Project description

This study aims to develop a simpler model for interaction with the interiorand exterior of an automobile, inspired by the comfort and optimism of past car culture, predominantly based on cars from the sixties. This particular decade was chosen as the time when the central user group of older people were driving their first cars. The design draws from the values, excitement and vision experienced by users during those days.

The project also translates trends in familiarity and iconification found in contemporary product design into the vehicle’s design. It was inspired in part by the future needs of ageing drivers and their ability to access communication and navigation tools within automobiles.

Further research in this area has grown into an analysis of how the design of a vehicle communicates what it is, and what it can do in both a physical and digital sense. As the design of the vehicle is influenced by the needs of future older drivers in Western Europe and the US, a focus group of older people was convened to help infer how a similar group might respond to similar physical and psychological issues in 15 years’ time.

The goal is to create a vehicle that is more usable within urban centres by an ageing population as well as being accessible and appealing to everyone.

Key features

• The vehicle maintains familiarity while not being too distinctly ‘retro’
• The interface combines voice and visual feedback to create a more accessible and enjoyable experience in the car
• Visually compartmentalized technical components make using and maintaining the car more honest and understandable and appropriate for older users.

Research methods

A focus group of older users helped to define what attributes of interacting with cars from the past remain distinctive today and what features in today’s cars are appreciated by older users.

Target users

• Baby boomers who will be the next generation of pensioners
• Urban drivers across the spectrum of age and ability.