NEXT STOP 2025
An Inclusive Bus Wayfinding Solution
Designer: Francisco Rebello www.franciscorebello.com
with industry support of FWDesign
The Greenway Towards Southall
U1 U4 Express
U7
427 607 A10 Mon - Sat
WHAT IS NEXT STOP 2025? Introduction to Project Concept
My name is Francico Rebello, an Industrial Design graduate from Brunel University, and Next Stop 2025 is my final year major project. It is an inclusive wayfinding project, developed with support of the wayfinding consultancy fwdesign. With a passion for and work background in graphic design, the focus of the project had been to offer an information graphic solution, with potential for a 3D product application. After much initial exploration, primary and ethnographic research, the conclusion that the most appropriate inclusive wayfinding project that would benefit myself and fwdesign would be to improve the communication of information to older bus passengers, based on their journey behaviour as well as their physical and cognitive disadvantages. This project book was produced for my degree show to help explain vistors through my project. The first section of the book outlines the actual concept of the design proposal, first explaining further the information concept of the project which had been its main focus, and then showing imagery of the final bus stop designs. The second section of the project book gives a brief breakdown of the development journey taken from research and breif to final design proposition.
CONCEPT OUTLINE
INFORMATION MODULES Outline of Information Concepts
LONG DISTANCE INFORMATION
The Greenway
Flag Sign Illuminated Live Infomation informing when bus has left previous stop
Towards Southall
U1 U4
U7
Express
427 607 A10 Mon - Sat
NEAR DISTANCE INFORMATION
Bus Route Information Live RTI informing time for next bus
PERSONAL JOURNEY INFORMATION
Personalised step-by-step journey cards, self deviced via oyster kiosk or online planner.
LONG DISTANCE INFORMATION Flag Sign ‘Live’ Next Bus Communication Previous Bus Stop
TFL Logo: Used to indicate to unfamiliar users that this is a bus stop. Location Name: Used to indicate to unfamiliar users the area that they are currently situated.
Current Bus Stop
The most unique feature of the long distance information on the ‘Next Bus’ stop would be its ‘live’ bus communication. Using existing GPS technology, when an arriving bus, has just left the previous stop, its box on the sign will illuminate red as shown. This subtle indicator, allows the user more time to get up and prepare their oyster card or change for boarding the bus. This is of most benefit to older or visually impaired users, who aften last to see a bus arriving, or in many cases miss the bus altogether. This page shows the information elements of the flag sign graphics. The elements were selected and distributed based on the existing TFL flag as well as an information hierarchy based on primary research.
Bus Stop Identifier: Used to distinguish between bus stops when there are many bus stops in the area. Direction of Travel; Used to distinguish orientation of two bus stops at the same location travelling opposite directions Bus Number: Indicator of what bus stops at this bus stop. Bus Number Box; Containing box that holds information for 1 bus route. Additionnal Information related to that bus route, contained within its box
Illuminated Bus Number: Indicating that the 607 has just left the last stop.
Space for additional bus routes.
650 mm
‘Live’ Next Bus Communication
500 mm
The Greenway Towards Southall
U1 U4 Express
U7
427 607 A10 Mon - Sat
REAL TIME INFORMATION Real Time Technology ACIS IBIS
The feasibility of the communication between bus stop and bus is proven by the existence of the ACIS IBIS. The IBIS offers scheduled real-time travel information to urban and rural locations thorugh GPS receivers, and is small and energy efficient enough to be fitted on flag poles. It uses the most energy efficient communication technology, becoming ideally suited to micro-generation systems such as solar and wind power. Using just 10 watts of power in use and less than 0.1 watts in standby mode, IBIS is the most efficient RTI product on the market today.
NEAR DISTANCE INFORMATION
Route Planning Time Remaining for Next Bus Using a state-of-the-art e-paper display along side TFL’s new GPS iBus technology, live information can be be displayed at the flag stand using a minimal amount of energy compared to a full LCD display. This display replaces the current printed timetables that display information for the arrival of busses for the whole year, forcing the user to sift through a large amount of numbers to find the time they want. This page shows an example of one information panel for one bus at a bus stop. The smallest bus stop can fit 6 of these panels within its information board.
E-Paper Screen: Indicating the minutes remaining for that bus Bus Route Number and related information
427 Towards
Acton
Daily Columns Titles, labelling the information in the columns below Indication of current location, and direction that bus is arriving from Named minor bus stops that appear before next major bus stop
Town
Landmarks
Uxbridge
Bus Stops
Hillingdon Cemetery St John's Church Harlington Road Long Lane
Hillingdon
1 min
Hayes
999 8 min
Un-named minor bus stops that appear after next major stop Unnamed minor bus stops that appear after next major stop
13 min
Major Bus Stop 14 min
After testing many different graphic elements, eperimenting with the inclusion of various information pieces, this panel is the final iteration of much development. The top banner of the panel gives the user information on what bus is being displayed, next to a digital number screen showing the minutes left for that bus. With the existing TFL timetables being replaced by minutes-waiting screen, the majority of the information space is given to route finding. To help older users find their way around, a number of graphic devices have been used, such as the seperation of the route into districts, the inclusion of landmark icons, and the inclusion of ALL bus stops (not just the key stops as is currently available).
Southall 18 min
Town name, with coloured area indicating town boundaries
Hanwell 24 min
27 min
Landmark Icons, to help older users navigate their way around towns based on their memory of buildings
Ealing 29 min
34 min
Acton End Terminal of Bus Stop
40 min
INFORMATION DISPLAY E-Paper
The live minutes screen indicating the time remaining for the next bus, needs to be low powered and digital, to allow it to be used on all formats of bus stop, including flag poles. The increasingly ppular technology of E-Paper will be used on the ‘Next-Stop’ bus system. The choice of E-Paper over a conventonal display, is its low energy consumption, allowing it to be solar or battery powered, as opposed to high installation cost of electronic screens. It has a better viewing angle and has the resoloution similar to that of a newspaper, and can be backlit through the use of LED lighting.
PERSONALISED JOURNEY INFORMATION Journey Planning Travel Aid
These journey cards make use of existing journey planning services. Either by selecting the destination from their home, or at the train station Oyster kiosk, their journey is instructed from their home (or train station) to their destination First the user is instructed on how to walk to their bus stop, and how to identify it as the correct one. Then they are told what busses from this stop will take them to their destination . All arrival times are shown 1 hour from time of printing (or selected time) The user is then instructed as to what bus stop to disembark the bus. And finally instructions are given as to how to walk to thie end destination. These cards can be printed at the ticket office, and also compatible for A4 home printing.
Martha’s Journey Card
1
From: Brunel University To: Uxbridge Station
1
Walk To Bus Stop
Exit University to Kingston Lane. Turn left Walk Down Turn left at Hillingdon Road. Bus Stop is Just Ahead.
2
Walk To Bus Stop
3
What busses you can take:
5
Approximate Journey times: Find Correct Bus Stop
7
427 U1 U4
Towards Uxbridge
427
10 minutes 6 stops away
Towards Ruislip
U1
10 minutes 6 stops away
Towards Uxbridge
U4
10 minutes 6 stops away
You are here
U7
Towards Uxbridge Station
U7
10 minutes 6 stops away
Finding correct bus stop
4
The Greenway
BE Towards Uxbridge and Ruislip
Next arriving busses: Find Correct Bus Stop
427
07:06 07:22
07:14 08:00
U1
07:06 07:22
07:14 08:00
U4
07:06 07:22
07:14 08:00
U7
07:06 07:22
07:14 08:00
6
Bus stop to exit bus:
Uxbridge Station
C Towards Ruislip
Walk To Tube Station
From Bus Stop. Walk down Park Road. Uxbridge Station is at the end of the road.
8
Walk To Tube Station
You are here
STRUCTURE FAMILY Flag Sign Intermediate Shelter Large Shelter Additional Sign
Flag Sign: For use on narrow small roads. Provides shelter for one person. To be aligned perpendicular to the road. Intermediate Structure: When more pavement space is available, intermediate shelter can be used for smaller bus stops. Can shelter 3 users. Must be aligned parallel to the road. If placed at the back of the road, it should be accompanied by an additional sign placed near the curb. Large Shelter: When maximum pavement space is available, for popular bus stops sites, the large shelter should be used. Large shelter can be extended, to hold as many people as needed. Includes seating and back glass panel. Must be aligned parallel to the road. If placed at the back of the road, it should be accompanied by an additional sign placed near the curb.
FLAG STAND
INTERMEDIATE SHELTER
LARGE SHELTER
MATERIALS & ASSEMBLEY
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
WAYFINDING FWDesign A Supported Project
FWDesign is a wayfinding consultancy, using their “wayfinding, information graphics and product design skills to create maps, signs and urban realm products that result in spaces that are a joy to be in and navigate through� . Their client list includes establishments such as te Metropolitan Police, Islington Council, Kings College London and Westfields Shopping Centre. The field of wayfinding is concerned with the navigation and journeys of people in various locations and scenarios. In a commercial sense, clients of wayfinding consultancies may need their expertise for applications such as system signage, campus wayfinding, wayfinding for building complexes, open space signage, transport network signage or individual signs. These clients could be anyone from local governments to hospitals, to retail stores and sports stadiums.
INITIAL EXPLORATION Inclusive Wayfinding
With no brief to begin with, but just the preferences of a project that is an inclusive solution to wayfinding, the most initial task was to explore the various problems and opportunities that could be found within the field of “Inclusive Wayfinding”. Starting with initil brainstorming, research methods used were: - Collecting Personas - Interviews - Photo - Documentation - Literature Review - Technology Research - Primary Research
“I like to be independent” “Before, my husband did everything for me, but since he died I do everything myself, I don’t depend on my children” “ If I stay at home all day I feel miserable”
JOURNEY ANALYSIS
1st Hand Journey Research
In order to get the best insight into the problems and opportunities found with people’s everyday journeys, it was necessary to travel with such users I traveled with an elderly bus user on her everyday journey to her local high road and back. Such journey documentation was also conducted on a range of other users. These journeys were very useful, and uncovered problems that were not previously mentioned in literature or previous interviews.
SITUATION ANALYSIS
1st Hand Location Research
After speaking to many different types of users and travellers, and conducting literature research, I took to the various mentioned locations. The locations noted as the most difficult for elderly and disabled users were: - Supermarkets - Bus Terminal Stations - Shopping Centres - Tube Station Underground Exits - Bus Stop Information
SELECTED BRIEF
Focused Brief for Final Solution Currently flag stops do not all incorporate: ‐ Real Time Information ‐ Journey Planning ‐ Onward Journey Route Maps ‐ Talking information ‐ Location mapping ‐ A focus on older and partially sighted people Design an information led bus flag stop solution that is fully inclusive and accessible for the journeys of older people. Solution can be 2D information graphics or delivered in a 3D artefact or both. Information must be designed to be modular so that elements can be utilised across a range of scales of bus stop. E.g. from ‘flag stands’ to major bus stations
INITIAL CONCEPTS
Proposed Initial Information Modules In response to the brief and initial research of the project, 5 initial concepts were proposed. These were Concept 1: Live Bus Information Board Concept 2: Personalized Journey Cards Concept 3: Interactive Planner Concept 4: Passenger Waiting Flag Illumination Concept 5: Bus Stop Structure
INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT
Development of Information Layout and Graphics From the initial concept to final prototype, a long process of experimentation, testing and development had been undertaken. Just some of the different protypes are displayed here. Experimentation, with different graphic devices, layouts and control interfaces had been designed. By testing these protypee boards on users and getting their feedback on what worked and what did not, the information boards were developed.
STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Development of Various Bus Stop Structures With the focus of the project being based around the information given to users at the bus stop, the final stage of development was to design the three-dimensional structures that this information would be housed in. Although some initial sketches were proposed, the form was inspired by a sketch (below) by Roger Crabtree, (Creative Director of FWD) suggesting a modular approach to the bus stop formats would be prefferable.
Modular Approach sketch by Roger Crabtree at fwdesign, directing the type of appreach wanted for the structure development.
STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Development of Various Bus Stop Structures With the decision of modular bus stop decided on, initial form exploration moved from hand sketches to computer illustrations providing more decisive form designs. This page shows just some of the initial form concepts proposed, the form on the top left of the group was the design chosen for further development.
STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Street Alignment and Visualisation
Whilst designing forms worked in theory, it was not yet known how they would work in the setting of the streets they would be going in to. With it not being possible to build models to test outdoors in street settings, experimentations were made graphically. Using various techniques such as isometric drawings, the diferent formats of bus stop were added to the street settings and placed at different alignments and placements on the pavement. The original concept had the flag stop facing parallel to the road, with the flag information placed on the hanging arm of the structure. It was not until this paving experimentation was undertaken that the form changed to have the flag graphics placed in a new sign under the arm. The reason for the change, was to allow the back of the structure to face the paving and protect the user from oncoming traffic.
STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Final Dimensions
With the final form decided upon, it was then necessary to finalise the conclusive dimensions to the bus stop. These had to take into account inclusive design principles already established so to include all types of users, and conform to necessary legislation. In order to make sure these principles were followed, the design considered many design guidelines. Such guidelines were the: TFL Accessible Bus Stop Design Guidance Translink Bus Stop Design Guidance and W: 400 mm
W: 150 mm W: 150 mm
H: 2400 mm
H: 800 mm
H: 100 mm
2.4 m Tall
D
H: 1900 mm
H: 2800 mm H: 950 mm
H: 3600 mm
3.6 m Tall
W: 400 mm
H: 3750 mm
W: 500mm
W: 260 mm
H: 2900 mm
H: 400 mm
H: 400 mm
3.75 m wide
ep de m mm 30 00 1. : 13
W: 150 mm
H: 800 mm
W: 480 mm
H: 2500 mm
Department for Transport Inclusive Mobility Guide.
W: 240 mm
FINAL USER TESTING
Prototype Testing on Bus Users Taking the final prototypes to various users homes, older and other users, feedback could be recieved on the final design of the information design. Feedback was mostly positive. All users preferrred the visual look of the proposed design over the existing timetables and warmed to the digital live communication of the time for the next bus. The larger route planner was also recieved well, stating that it made their journey planning more easier to do at the bus stop. the only areas where the information design was weaker was the use of symbols explaining special landmarks, some symbols were understood, but other were confusing, and did not communicate the right information.