In many companies that develop highly complex products, the result is unfortunately still determined by technological limitations. Be it through special software or rigid processes and responsibilities. It is only on the last mile that design comes into play to make the product look pretty and hide the compromises that have been made during development.

But what could the development of a new product platform look like if design is an elementary part of the development process from the very first second?

A small, courageous team with a vision invited us to take part in such an experiment in order to lay the foundations for the development of a new tram platform. This team has recognized that the great advantage of support from independent industrial designers is that they cannot fall back on ready-made solutions and do not know how problems have been solved in the past.

Moreover, as industrial designers, we instead bring experience from a wide variety of sectors and industries. From trucks, buses and special vehicles to aviation. This means that we can rely upon a wide range of tools and solutions for every challenge. Whether it's a problem that requires lightweight construction approaches or a quick review of a concept using rapid prototyping or the optimization of ergonomics for the people who use the product. With our solution-oriented way of thinking, we always try to find the best solution, whether it is material selection, production processes, or cost and resource optimization.

What does a designer have to do with the development of an interior ceiling? This is clearly an engineering task!

Designers work with a variety of tools. Because there is a suitable toolset for every topic and every problem. Using the ventilation duct as an example, parametric design software was used to quickly generate a multitude of design solutions for the ventilation cross-section and its percentage distribution in real time. At the same time, the space requirements for the individual building blocks were checked, defined, and optimized. Elsewhere, organic free-form GRP components were designed, resulting in optimized airflow distribution. Rapid analysis and verification of the assembly sequence as well as optimization of the support structure were also part of our work.

These are just a few examples of how design processes and collaboration between design and engineering can lead to optimized solutions for technical challenges.

As industrial designers, we were involved in all areas of vehicle development. From the new assembly concepts of the interior panels to ergonomic studies for the passengers and the final color scheme of the interior. As well as the exterior design, the modeling of Class A surfaces for the production of components and the integration of all safety-relevant regulations in our designs.

This is very helpful when it comes to not losing sight of the big picture while working on detective solutions. In the end, this objective approach makes the difference between a product that looks like it was created by chance and one that follows a red thread. This difference is what makes a good product a great product.

And of course, “beautiful pictures” are also created as part of our work during the development process.
Initial ideas and solutions can already be visualized in the early development phase. Depending on the development phase, as a quick sketch of an idea, as a comparison of several possible solutions or as final high-quality renderings for marketing and sales. These images also ensure that everyone is talking about the same thing and pursuing the same goal.
Visualisations show everyone involved, in every phase of development, where the journey is heading.

By accompanying the entire development process from the initial idea onwards, we know exactly what makes a product what it is and can therefore help to set priorities and improve the quality of the end product.