Materials for our first research interviews.
Echo tracks
General Product (IxD1)
2026
Echo tracks is an expansion of Norrtåg’s service to also include a digital platform for passengers to support each other in their exploration of Northern Sweden. The foundation of this additional service is the Shared Journey Map, which is a map of Norrtåg’s lines where passengers’ thoughts, experiences and local knowledge tied to specific places along the tracks are collected. On the train, the Participatory Playground creates the opportunity for real-time interaction between passengers through use of the displays, while Ghost Stories invites them to engage with stories from past passengers who have sat in their exact seat. Together, these services strengthen the collective knowledge and stories of Norrtåg passengers, building on the unique aspects of taking the train.
About the course
In this IxD1 course, students explored the future of rail travel in collaboration with Norrtåg, examining how trains can become gateways to richer, experience-led journeys across northern Sweden. Through a process of field research, stakeholder engagement, and iterative prototyping, students developed service concepts that extend the travel experience beyond transportation itself. The projects shift focus from destination-based travel to journeys shaped by anticipation, discovery, and reflection, supporting meaningful connections with local places, people, and cultures. By working across digital and physical touchpoints, students designed integrated service ecosystems that build engagement before departure, enrich experiences along the way, and sustain memories after the journey has ended, demonstrating how thoughtful design can strengthen both regional value and traveller experience.
Isak Steinnes Christoffersen
Master's Programme in Interaction Design
Yijing Zhang
Master's Programme in Interaction Design
Helen Frank
Master's Programme in Interaction Design
User journey map based on the data we collected.
Co-creation workshop with passengers.
Ideation sketches.
Shared Journey Map: A collaborative map where passengers share experiences, local knowledge, and travel insights along railway journeys.
Participatory Playground: An on-train space for passengers to post questions and comments during the journey, in real-time.
Ghost Stories: A seat-based storytelling space connecting passengers through memories, traces, and stories left across different journeys.
Overview of touchpoints.
Echo tracks – Concept video
