An international Transportation Design project takes IED Torino students to Nantes to rethink the public transport experience through field research and design experimentation.
News
Tramwaves: IED Students in Nantes Rethink the Future of Urban Mobility Through Design
Date
05 November 2026
How can design help make public transport more engaging, accessible and convivial?
This was the challenge at the heart of Tramwaves, a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) developed within the Erasmus+ programme, which brought IED Turin Transportation Design students and lecturers together for an international learning and design experimentation experience at L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, in Nantes, France, in October.
The project gave students the opportunity to address a real-world urban mobility challenge, exploring the relationship between people, public transport and shared spaces.
Through field observations, passenger interviews and behavioural analysis, participants investigated users' habits, needs and experiences of the local public transport system, gathering data and insights to identify new design opportunities.
Combining design research methodologies with real-world testing, students were challenged to translate their findings into design insights, develop experimental concepts and propose potential solutions to enhance the passenger experience.
The aim was to envision more attractive, inclusive and convivial public transport systems through interventions that encourage new forms of interaction and social engagement, with the potential to be adapted and implemented in other urban contexts.
Tramwaves showcases the value of Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes: international learning experiences that combine collaborative learning, physical mobility and project-based activities, bringing together students, lecturers and higher education institutions from different countries.
An opportunity to take design beyond the classroom, engage with different contexts and communities, and explore the role of design as a driver of innovation and social transformation.
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