Steer shortlisted for the 2019 Design Week Awards

Steer is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the 2019 Design Week Awards for our project 'Reimagining Nochebús'.

The project has been entered into the 'Wayfinding and Environmental Graphics' category, which looks at print or digital signage and other environmental graphics for towns and cities, commercial or cultural buildings or developments, and public services such as schools and healthcare facilities.

The winners will be announced on 20 June at the Design Week Awards ceremony. 

About Nochebús 

Mexico City’s night bus service operates from midnight till 5.00am and, with 15% of employees starting or finishing work in the early hours and many visitors or residents returning home after a night out, should be a vital asset for the city. However, a combination of poor reliability, concerns about personal safety, and a lack of visibility and information have resulted in a poor customer experience and a service that is used only by people with limited or no mobility alternative.

Steer was commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank to analyse service delivery issues across the network’s eleven routes with an emphasis on Mexico City’s Insurgentes corridor, and to identify a package of measures that could be implemented in the short and medium term to improve the overall passenger experience and grow patronage.

A key finding of the study was the need for a regular, reliable service that could be communicated through a distinctive night bus identity, promotional materials and user information system to help, build user recognition, understanding and visibility.

We agreed an updated operational plan with the city and kicked off the design process by designing a contemporary visual identity that would acknowledge Mexico City Metro’s iconic brand (in its 50th anniversary year) yet be distinct and recognisable in its own right. We translated the identity to a suite of information products including: a schematic network map, local area wayfinding maps, and templates for stop specific information – all delivered as part of a system brand manual.

Throughout the design process we rapid-prototyped the information system on the streets of Mexico City to test the legibility and effectiveness of the designs and to gauge public perceptions.

Outputs

• Design of the Nochebús visual identity
• Design of the Nochebús passenger information system and schematic network map
• Nochebús brand manual and design templates for all information elements

Recommendations

• Customer facing digital tools (responsive website / web app / app) with a concept app design delivered as part of the brand manual
• Relocated and redesigned stops to consolidate and improve interchange opportunities
• Improved public realm design to reduce crossing distances and improve customer safety
• Improved passenger environments, including new shelters and lighting
• Optimised traffic signal timings and real time vehicle tracking
• Future integration with Metro, Metrobus
• Future integration with smart mobility solutions
• Improved integration with services beyond the city boundary

The project was applied along the 27km length of Aavenida Insurgents, one of the main corridors in the city as a pilot project launched on 27th July 2018 by the interim head of Mexico City’s government, José Ramón Amieva. Post launch feedback was positive and the new city government has pledged to extend the system across the remaining 10 lines of the Nochebus network.