Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle. by Zbigniew Dubiel is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2019 A' Design Award in Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design Competition Category.
IronSporting Goods· 2019
Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle.
Client: Torqway Sp. z o.o.
A' Design Award Winner in Sporting Goods Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #83264The Design
About Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle.
The Nordic riding vehicle. This is an innovative activity device for physical exercise, which supports mature people in maintaining good condition and physical independence. Riding Torqway activates all muscle groups, it doesn’t put strain on joints, and its exercises are up to 20% more effective than walking. The Torqway is very safe and stable due to its low center of gravity with batteries located in the floor. By implementation of the advanced hybrid drive technology, navigating the Torqway is very easy and convenient. The vehicle connects with the app for the activity tracking updates.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award
Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle. is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle. is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle. is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.
Interviews
Design Interview
What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
The Torqway Hybrid target market is mature and active people age 55+. There are quite a few different personal mobility products on the market, which are destined for young audience. My goal was to make Torqway look modern, timeless and attractive. I also wanted to visually connect it with the technology behind it. Most of all by applying this design I wanted to encourage future users to try it. I think it is fresh, dynamic and still elegant design.
What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
It is still very common to see the not to well designed products for senior citizens in comparison to younger buyers.
We don't agree with this. I am absolutely certain that it doesn't matter how old one is, we still like our products, vehicles to look nice. The design of Torqway looks safe and stable - it is very important. It gives impression like it is quite light and dynamic. The shape of the Torqway moving poles were inspired by muscular arms. Visual connection between our body and the device.
What are your future plans for this award winning design?
The Torqway Company is currently working very hard on pre-series prototype production of the Hybrid. It should be on the market fairly soon.
I reckon there will be a lots of people packing their Torqways to their electric cars and taking them to (for example) Northern Holland to explore tulip fields, seaside and sand dunes using endless bike roads. Fantastic alternative to the bicycles.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The Nordic Riding.
It is a vehicle for physical exercise,
which supports mature people in maintaining good condition
and physical independence.
Riding Torqway activates all muscle groups, it doesn’t put strain
on joints, and Torqway exercises are up to 20% more effective
than walking. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The weight is going to be less than 40kg
The general dimensions :
height - 1217mm,
width - 654mm,
length - 708mm
please see the attachment - Tags
- Torqway Hybrid, Nordic Riding, Physical Exercise Vehicle,
- Production Technology
- Overall body construction is made by Polyamide 66 in molds technology. Most important parts are reinforcement by aluminum structures. As a propulsion we used compact but high torque engines powered by dedicated power supply designed for Torqway Hybrid purpose only.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge was to create elegant, sporty and yet very functional surface around the given technical package. The idea was to create aesthetically pleasing visual connection between user and the device/vehicle.
- Research
- The initial research before the first sketched ideas was about the human interaction with the exercise device/vehicle. Although the Torqway is the mechanical device the idea was to provide more of the visual connection with the person riding it. The nature was the great source of those inspirations. In order to give it more upscale feel, I had to look at premium everyday products.
The project was first sketched out using paper and pencil/pens, then digital drawing were applied and in the final stages 3D applications had to be used in order to match the provided engineering package.
The design was later transformed into the full scale mockup painted model (also used later for the marketing purposes - www.torqway.com). - Inspiration
- The original idea was created at Polish startup company Torqway . Initialy Torqway created fully working concept of mechanical mobility device. Then there was the idea of combining this innovative muscle powered vehicle with electric power - the Hybrid. I was responsible for designing the external look of the more advanced Torqway Hybrid.
Timeless classic with smooth lines and sophisticated details, premium class products. Natural and organic shapes that create harmony with the user. - Project Duration
- Project (the design stage) has started in Fall 2017 and the design/styling has been approved in Spring 2018. The project currently is in the pre-production stage. The project has started in Torun, Poland and design stage was created in Derby, UK .
The Torqway company is located in Torun, Poland. - Operation Flow
- User uses arms to drive the vehicle and his heels to turn. Keeping the balance during the ride involves most of the torso muscles.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to
Torqway Sp. z o.o. ,
Zbigniew Dubiel/Dubiel Design Ltd, 2019,
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