Cove refers to a small, sheltered bay; calm, protective, and inviting - reflecting the project’s aim to create a seamless and welcoming access point for electric surfing inspired by natural forms and rhythms.
COVE - Beyond surf
Degree Project
2025
Electric surfboards offer thrill and high performance, but the experience surrounding them often falls short. Charging, transporting, and storing these bulky, battery-powered boards is inconvenient, making them hard to access and frequently underused. This thesis explores how design can reduce that friction and make occasional use feel effortless and inviting. The result is Cove, a compact, smart storage pod placed near the water. It securely stores, charges, rinses, and maintains the board while offering a clean, private space to change. Designed for shared ownership or resort rentals, Cove improves access, creates new business opportunities, extends product lifespan, maximises resource utilisation, and enhances the overall experience. While it stands out as a confident design object, its natural materials help it feel at home in the nautical environment it is designed for.
Project Information
Electric surfboards are exceptional, high-performance products that promise freedom and thrill on the water. But when viewed holistically, that promise often breaks down. The ride is incredible, but the pre- and post-surf logistics, charging, transporting, safety, and storage introduce friction that makes the overall experience feel fragmented. Advanced batteries and high-value components often sit unused, creating environmental and economic waste that does not align with the conscious consumer.
The thesis began with a simple insight: the problem is not the board itself but everything around it. While working with electric surfboards, I observed wasted resources and missed opportunities. This insight led to a core design question: how might we rethink access models to better match the product's value, maximize its use, and offer a more seamless, rewarding experience?
Cove is a response to this challenge. It is a compact, smart storage solution for electric surfboards. It is designed to simplify use while enabling product-as-a-service and expanding the customer base to shared ownership or rentals in coastal resorts, marinas, and local communities that do not have the infrastructure and resources of traditional rental companies. Cove reduces friction while improving usability, sustainability, and the potential for new business models.
Methods
The project combined user research, observations, industry interviews, and hands-on exploration. I spoke with private users, rental operators, and Lind Surf employees and gained direct experience using and maintaining the boards. Benchmarking related sectors such as shared mobility and water sports rentals provided additional insight into user expectations and system gaps.
The concept evolved through system mapping, iterative prototyping, and user feedback. Key criteria included safety, security, ease of cleaning, visual integration with coastal settings, and practical constraints like shipping dimensions. Lind's feedback played a key role in validating feasibility and business relevance.
Result
Cove is a freestanding waterfront pod that supports every part of the electric surfboard journey. It secures and charges the board and battery, includes integrated rinsing and drying features, and offers a clean, semi-private space for changing and storing personal items. Access is managed through a connected app, allowing for shared or timed use.
The pod's outer shell is made of expanded cork. This natural, lightweight, and weather-resistant material fits visually into marine environments. Its bold but calm form blends tactile natural finishes with a confident presence.
Three scalable use cases were developed. In local communities, Cove can be shared among a small group of users. It can serve as an exclusive amenity for hospitality settings, and on a larger scale, it can function as part of a modular rental platform. Instructors can be booked effortlessly for new users or people who want full service.
By rethinking ownership and embracing the logic of the shared economy, Cove helps reduce waste, extend product life, and unlock new business opportunities. It proposes more innovative infrastructure that turns an exceptional ride into a complete and enjoyable experience.
Scan QR code for 360 view of Cove
In collaboration with:
UID25 | Frida Neckmar – Grad project presentation
Electric surfboards promise a thrilling, premium ride - but when viewed holistically, the surrounding experience is fragmented, inconvenient, and far from seamless.
Field research trip to Mallorca to observe real-world contexts, conduct user interviews, and test the product in its intended environment.
User journey mapping of today's pain points, pre- and post-surfing.
Choose to book ahead in the app or ride spontaneously on the spot. Pre-bookings include the option of a guided intro by a local host or simply following the clear in-app and on-product instructions.
When opened, Cove greets you with soft ambient light. Large illustrated instructions make each step clear at a glance.
Get ready and store your belongings safely and in an organised manner. Unfold the panels to create a private changing room.
In a fire-safe compartment, a special charging dock lets the user effortlessly charge the batteries.
To extend the board’s lifespan and support a smoother workflow, a dedicated cleaning and installation station is integrated into the back of the unit.
To extend the board’s lifespan and support a smoother workflow, a dedicated cleaning and installation station is integrated into the back of the unit.
