Woom Is Honored with the Silver A' Design Award for Now Next Generation Bike in Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design

The Work

Project

Now Next Generation Bike

Function

Next Generation Bike

Category

Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design

Discipline

Industrial Design

Industry

Automotive

Colors

Dark Slate Gray, Lavender, Dim Gray, Black and Gray

Images

5

The Recognition

Laureate

Woom

Country

Austria

Recognition

Silver A' Design Award

Edition

2021 - 2022

Design ID

#134929

Credits

Image Credits

woom GesmbH

Design Details

Unique Properties

With its woom NOW, the Austrian manufacturer of bikes for children and teens is launching an urban lifestyle bike that is as eye-catching as it is unique: the new woom is a lightweight and fully loaded bike with a new take on frame architecture and packed with special features. In a nod to the world of bike messengers, the woom NOW combines an integrated front rack with a small front wheel. This feature is not only stylish but also makes for a safe and stable ride when carrying loads.

Inspiration

A lot of woom customers wanted a bike that was perfectly tailored to the day-to-day mobility needs of their kids. We responded with the woom NOW. It's a cool bike for the city that lets kids get where they need to go by bike. We're focusing on urban youth who put a high premium on freedom and independence. Generation Alpha: Born when iPad was launched Children of Millennials positive pester power tech-enabled creativity Digital Masters showing signs of being the new old fashioned

Research

Research was a fundamental part in designing an urban oriented kids bicycle that lead into creating a new category on the market. Extensive Competitor Analysis led to discover that most bikes on the market are converted bicycles but not designed from the ground up. Further Interviews of Stakeholders (Dealers, Customers, Industry Experts) aimed at solving problems (transport of schoolbag) fulfilling needs and kids desires (lifestyle, cool look, customizability).

Challenge

"A lot of woom customers wanted a bike that was perfectly tailored to the day-to-day mobility needs of their kids. We responded with the woom NOW. It's a cool bike for the city that lets kids get where they need to go by bike," says Matthias Leite-Guertner, the head of the Product Design team, "even when they've got a backpack, groceries or a duffle bag." woom NOW product manager Raffael Zimmel adds, "We wanted to make a bike that was as cool as a mountain bike but was perfectly suited to the big city." The team of developers tinkered for more than two years and thought about the requirements for a new generation of urban bikes.

Realization and Technology

For the design we used moodboards and various murals to collect and visualize the requirements. We were not only going to various sketch phases but beforehands made extensive research on the needs of generation alpha. Not only bringing rational features into the design, but also really working on the emotional facts. Like that teens want to express themselves which lead us for example to the identity board. A framebag where they can show their thoughts or even a little protest.

Operation and Interaction

The woom NOW gives riders aged 6 to 14 years a revolutionary urban lifestyle bike. It is equipped with a versatile front rack that supports baggage of up to 10 kg, hydraulic Flatmount disc brakes and wide balloon tyres. The smaller front wheel ensures a low centre of gravity to provide stability and control over the bike. It has a versatile front rack for loads of up to 10 kg; additional bike accessories can be attached on each side.

Project Duration and Location

This bicycle was designed in Austria, the project was carried out for 2 years.

Specifications

1480 cm x 720 cm x 250 cm

Keywords

convertible, extraordinary, unique, individual, flashy, functional, suitable for everyday life, modern