Process: Working together in VR and Blender at the same time, as a team, trying out the space with taped space on the floor and trying out different layout positions.
LUMO
Vehicle Concept Design (TD1)
2025
LUMO is an autonomous feeder system that rethinks access to public transport in rural northern Sweden. The project explores mobility as a designed experience, bridging the gap between private homes and fixed bus infrastructure. By acting as an extension rather than a replacement of public transport, LUMO supports inclusivity and independence, especially for children, older people, and rural communities. Signed in a Nordic, minimalist language, LUMO combines architectural robustness with an inviting presence. Operating autonomously in a continuous loop, it picks passengers up at their front door and connects them to the nearest bus station. Using telescopic technology, the LUMO Loop deploys a capsule that temporarily acts as a mobile bus station, offering a sheltered waiting space until the bus arrives. Ordered via a bus app and adaptable to seasonal conditions, LUMO integrates seamlessly into existing public transport systems.
About the course
Designing the Future of Rural Mobility invites students to act as designers addressing the transport needs of sparsely populated regions. Across ten intensive weeks they explore how compact, electric and potentially autonomous vehicles can support sustainable mobility in northern Sweden. The work is guided by several UN Sustainable Development Goals and encourages students to consider how new solutions can improve accessibility, energy efficiency and quality of life in rural areas.
Students begin with a compact platform designed for efficiency and tough Nordic conditions, then develop vehicle concepts that support people, goods and public services. The proposals are also intended to be adaptable for future urban use. The course combines hand sketching, Photoshop rendering and CAD with AI supported visualisation, allowing students to compare traditional and emerging tools while reflecting on creativity, reliability and ethics in design workflows.
Five opportunity areas shape the project work: on demand rural transport, feeder services to public transport hubs, first and last‑mile goods distribution, healthcare and public service vehicles, and farm to market logistics. Team based scenarios ensure a clear link between user needs and design outcomes.
Collaboration with Rural Living Lab, Luvly and Scania strengthens the connection to real‑world challenges. These partners provide insight into rural mobility systems, lightweight modular platforms, manufacturability, micro mobility regulations, sustainable transport and autonomous logistics. Their involvement ensures that students receive professional feedback and work with relevant and credible contexts.
The course aims to support students in developing sustainable, people centred and forward‑thinking mobility concepts, encouraging curiosity, collaboration and critical reflection throughout the process.
Joona Pussinen
Master's Programme in Transportation Design
Sofia Brunner
Master's Programme in Transportation Design
Final sketches from the LUMO concept.
This picture shows my final Photoshop rendering with people standing next to it, as a scale reference.
This image shows some sketches (final sketch on the orange post-it), including
some form ideations, as well as the final front design in the Blender rendering on the right side.
Here, the Blender models show the rear view with the bike holders.
The final hero shot: LUMO is on its way to transport people to the next bus station.
LUMO in action when it is a cold and dark winters day or night.
This exploded view shows the different layers, which can be put together or separated and have different functions: Lumo – transporting people, The Loop – transporting the Lumo capsule, The Lumo capsule – acting as a mobile bus station while people waiting for the bus, and finally the interior.
Interor sketches.
Interior functions.
Photoshop rendering and sideview of the seating modes. Lean, table, reset, sit.
Different seating layouts from the top view.
Final rendering of the Lumo interior.
