DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: The inspiration behind my design was to create an urban logistics system that meets the challenges of the 21st century. The main principle was to offer an efficient, sustainable system that reduces truck movement and makes better use of existing urban infrastructure.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: My main focus was on creating a system that would be both logistically efficient and energy and resource efficient. I wanted to achieve a seamless and sustainable system that allows a continuous flow of goods throughout the city.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: I would like to continue and develop this system with potential investors so that it could be realized in an urban space.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: The design process of this system took about a year.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: I find the topic of urban mobility fascinating.
The issues of urbanization and mobility are a global key matter that needs creative, long-term solutions. I believe that the city is not the problem but the solution itself. Urban mobility and even more so urban logistics are in my eyes very important and challenging fields to deal with. Especially since there have not been any major innovations in urban logistics in the last 30 years.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: The system is designed for cities. Therefore logistics companies as well as urban municipalities are the potential investing and developing partners for such a project.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: In my opinion what sets this design apart, is the fact that it deals with the different stages and aspects of urban logistics. Many other concepts are Island Solutions since they only focus on one aspect or stage of the process.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: The definition of LINK is: a connecting element, a unit in a connected series of units forming a chain. This was the base principle of my concept- to connect and join between the different elements of the distribution process and existing urban infrastructure.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
: My design process began with extensive theoretical and field research. I continued with sketches, prototypes and functional models that allowed me to define and refine the concept and the design. In the final stages I used CAD modelling, renderings, graphics and animation. The result was presented in a 1:5 scale model.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: The most unique aspect of my design is the implementation of the semi autonomous, electric transporter fleet.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
: I met with leading experts from the field such as the director of the City Logistics program and the Research and Innovation center at DHL, Germany. I consulted city planners and engineers in order to create a plausible, realistic system. I explored scenarios and designs using various techniques.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: Technology plays a large role in my design. The whole system is based on innovative technologies that exist or are currently in development.