The Universal Bus collaboration between Altro Global Transport and German design house Neomind has won silver in the London Design Awards in the Conceptual Design in Mobility category.
The win follows the concept’s debut at the recent Transport Design Forum.
The Universal Bus showcases innovations that support the UK’s neurodivergent community, estimated to represent some 9.7 million people or around 15% of the population. Key features include quiet zones, family seating areas, acoustic material choices that minimise sensory overload, and enhanced passenger information screens.
The design is informed by research findings that revealed 91% of neurodivergent individuals are impacted by noise during travel and 83% by the effort required for journeys. The Universal Bus addresses this through clearly zoned layouts, intuitive wayfinding, real-time information displays and carefully calibrated colour palettes and geometry.
“Neuroinclusivity isn’t a design feature to add later – it’s a design foundation to build upon from the start,” says Chris Edwards-Thorne, Global Marketing Manager at Altro. “This award validates our commitment to creating transport solutions that are genuinely accessible and considerate of the diverse needs of all individuals. The Universal Bus concept demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform the travel experience for neurodivergent passengers while benefiting all users.”
Adds Kasia Foljanty, Director of Customer Experience at Neomind: “Working with Altro allowed us to create a design that goes beyond traditional accessibility models. We’ve addressed the ‘invisible’ sensory and cognitive challenges that represent the vast majority of accessibility needs in public transport. This concept proves that universal design benefits everyone – what we’ve created for neurodivergent passengers enhances comfort and usability for all travellers.”
