Client: IKI Design
Design Team: ErgoMind
Date: tba
Project Name (suggestion): Gentle Journeys – Accessible Bus Signage for Seniors
Introduction
This project aims to create a design solution that enhances the daily experience of elderly bus users. The focus is not only on functionality but also on promoting comfort, autonomy, and small moments of joy in their everyday routines.
The concept originated from observing how older adults often struggle to identify the right bus from a distance and occasionally forget which bus line they are on once inside. The proposed project does not seek to present a ready-made solution but to establish a solid foundation for an ergonomic design exploration.
Project Background
Public transport can be a source of independence and connection for seniors — yet visual, cognitive, and spatial barriers often make this experience stressful. The current challenge is to design a signage system that makes it easier for elderly passengers to:
1. Recognize which bus is arriving, even from afar or in low-visibility situations.
2. Confirm which bus they are currently on, using simple, intuitive internal indicators.
The project seeks to combine clarity, accessibility, and emotional well-being through design. The ultimate goal is not only to facilitate mobility but to enrich everyday life with small positive interactions — such as feeling confident, recognized, and reassured while traveling.
Market Background
Brazil’s aging population is rapidly increasing, making inclusive design more urgent. Accessibility standards exist but are often implemented from a purely functional standpoint, leaving aside emotional and aesthetic dimensions that contribute to quality of life.
This project aims to explore a human-centered, sensory approach, suitable for elderly users across diverse urban environments.
Key references include:
• Inclusive way-finding systems.
• Ergonomic visual communication.
• Designs inspired by daily micro-joys — warmth, color, light, and empathy.
Target Audience
- Primary users: Seniors aged 65+, frequent public transport users, with varying degrees of visual or cognitive limitations.
- Secondary users: Bus drivers and other passengers who indirectly benefit from clearer, more inclusive signage systems.
Personas might include:
• Maria, 73, who enjoys her independence and takes the bus daily to meet friends but sometimes feels anxious about taking the wrong one.
• José, 80, who has reduced eyesight and appreciates when visual information is intuitive and well-contrasted.
Project Goals and Outcomes
• Promote clarity, inclusivity, and independence for elderly passengers.
• Foster positive emotional engagement through thoughtful design.
• Enable replicability and scalability in different urban contexts.
• Create a prototype or concept model that can be user-tested in future phases.
Constraints and Considerations
• The project must comply with universal design principles.
• The system should be adaptable to existing bus infrastructure.
• In some bigger cities, apps like Moovit and Cittamobi and a few digital bus stop signs provide transit information – but these solutions are not accessible to people unfamiliar with the digital world.
• Cultural and climatic aspects of Brazilian urban environments should be considered.
• The solution must remain open-ended — no final product is required at this stage.
Hi everyone, my name is Alessia Fucito, from team 24. I recently came across an insightful resource that aligns perfectly with your project on improving the daily experience of elderly bus users: Jadhav et al. (2025), Role of Human-Centered Design and Technologies in Smart Transportation Systems. You can read the chapter here: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-72617-0_8
The chapter emphasizes the importance of designing transport systems that put people first, not just technology. Key takeaways for our work include:
Prioritizing user experience for elderly passengers, focusing on clarity, accessibility, and intuitive visual cues.
Using human-centered design to enhance confidence, autonomy, and small moments of joy while traveling.
Integrating ergonomic and sensory elements to ensure that both external signage and in-bus information are easy to interpret.
Highlighting the value of adaptable, scalable solutions that can work across diverse urban environments.
This resource maybe reinforces your approach: creating inclusive, thoughtful design solutions that make public transport not only functional but also emotionally supportive for older adults. I hope this has been helpful. Have a nice day <3