LAYER presents autonomous ride sharing platform for the future generation

UK-based experience-design agency LAYER presents ‘joyn’, a near-future concept for an autonomous ride sharing platform that rewards sustainable behavior. led by benjamin hubert, the project is designed to offer customers a more private, safe, and eco-friendly alternative to existing ride-share platforms such as uber, lyft, and other taxi services.

all images by LAYER

as ride-sharing is rising in popularity worldwide, reaching an estimated global value of $61.3 billion in 2019, concerns regarding safety, accountability, and sustainability are becoming more prevalent. ‘joyn’ identifies the opportunity to provide customers with a more enjoyable ride-sharing experience with its modular seat pairs, smart tech provisions, and an intuitive app that supports positive behavior.

‘joyn offers passengers a more private and secure alternative to public transport and existing rideshare vehicles,’ explains LAYER. ‘the eight-passenger vehicles are based around the footprint of a ford galaxy and have been designed to maximize comfort for short- to mid-length journeys of 30 to 60 minutes.’

the modular seats have been designed to maximize privacy. facing opposite ways and separated by dynamic wings, the seats can be configured into multiple options. for groups, ‘joyn’ offers a ‘buddy seat’ option where the wings open up and passengers traveling together can comfortably talk face-to-face rather than side-by-side. each seat also provides storage for small items of luggage.

designed to feel like home, the scheme takes its design cues from residential interiors, rather than traditional transport design. details such as durable vegetable leather, soft textile upholstery, and pillows can be found in the interior. the seat-back feature also provide riders with a storable table that opens up to charging ports and foldable tablet stands. on the exterior, the vehicle is encased with a smart OLED glass ‘bubble’ that displays ride information such as the ride map and time to destination.

through the ‘joyn’ app, riders are encouraged to engage with each other and create a community to drive environmental action. depending on the sustainability level of each ride, customers are able to collect points and exchange them for goods and services from partner vendors or donate their points as a cash value to charity partners.

‘the world is in the midst of an environmental emergency,’ says benjamin hubert, founder of LAYER. ‘this near-future concept addresses both the need for a more comfortable ride-share system that people actually want to use as an alternative to private commutes, and a growing need for environmental action and awareness. passengers using this platform could alleviate the ‘eco-guilt’ associated with car travel without sacrificing comfort or convenience, and also engage in a community with shared sustainable goals.’