MODYN & The Future of Mobility
Sitting Down With Our Managing Director – After more than 30-years as a leading industrial design agency, Vanderveer Designers is changing its name to MODYN. The new name, identity and appearance are in line with the new path the agency is taking: a specialization in mobility design for the international market.
For years, Wim van Dijk and Rik de Reuver have been steering the company towards success. But with the company entering a new era, the two are taking a step back and putting the daily management in the hands of Managing Director, Gert-Jan van Breugel. We spoke to Gert-Jan about the changes and his vision on mobility design.
What does MODYN stand for?
The name MODYN is a contraction of the words “mobility” and “dynamics.” Together, this name stands for the constant change and evolution of mobility design.
Why focus on mobility design?
Mobility gives us so many opportunities, which is why it is often seen as a form of freedom. At MODYN, we chose to commit to our expertise in mobility because it is so impactful on our lives, businesses and planet. This specialization is a choice for the future — a future in which there are endless possibilities and where we can make a significant contribution to an even more sustainable, efficient and easier way of moving.
What is your vision for the future of mobility design?
In the future, mobility design will go so much further than cars, focusing on a wider range of transportation options. The gap between public, personal and shared mobility is going to blur. And with this shift, people need to be enticed to using more efficient and sustainable mobility options. Walking, cycling, carsharing and public transport like buses, metros and trains are all valuable additions to individual driving. This makes travelling more social, more efficient and more sustainable.
This shift literally creates more space in cities, because not everyone needs to own their own means of transport. MODYN wants to help shape this future by creating more comfortable and accessible mobility solutions for society.
What trends and developments are important right now?
We see many global trends and developments influencing mobility design. As I mentioned before, there is the growing development of the sharing economy and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) — where more and more people are using ride-hailing and bike sharing services. This is also due to urbanization and the lack of space in large cities. As designers, we have to be creative and empathize with what people want and need now, but especially in the future, too.
Another important development that is playing a role in mobility design is global warming. Everyone is increasingly aware of their CO2 footprint and finding ways to reduce it, and that goes for mobility design, too. We’re thinking of ways to devise means of transport that are less harmful to our environment — solutions that encourage walking, cycling, and traveling by train, bus or shared car. By making these solutions as easy and attractive as possible, we hope that fewer people use the car as their standard means of transport. For example, we have designed child bicycle seats and cargo bikes, to be able to transport a family by bicycle instead of by car. Ultimately, it’s all about product experiences that people love, or ‘Design that moves.’
What is your dream for MODYN?
MODYN’s mission is to build a future where everyone can responsibly experience the freedoms of mobility. We want to design products that allow everyone to move more freely, easily and sustainably. Looking ahead as MODYN, we look forward to literally designing new futures for one of the most impactful industries in the world.
Gert-Jan van Breugel, Managing Director
Gert-Jan@MODYN.com
