freshie

freshie reimagines public transportation seating with a focus on hygiene, comfort, and personal space. Providing a cleaner and more comfortable experience for commuters.

RESEARCH
DESIGN
SKETCH
Team
Solo Project
Duration
November 2022
Crutches

Always try to avoid the germs while riding public transportation?

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has long dealt with challenges related to seat cleanliness, with reports of exposure to urine, feces, and vomit. More recently, concerns have also arisen regarding bed bugs.

Pain Points
Hygiene Concerns - Fabric seats easily absorb fluids and odors, creating significant hygiene issues for passengers.
Staining and Wear - Fabric seats are more prone to staining and wear out faster compared to harder materials, diminishing their appearance over time.
Exposure to Contaminants - There have been frequent reports of fabric seats being exposed to substances like urine, feces, and vomit, as well as concerns over bed bug infestations, further compromising cleanliness.
demo
Design Intent

To enhance the ease of maintenance and ensure the cleanliness of public transport seats.

Enhance Public Transport Hygiene

Freshie aims to minimize the absorption of fluids and odors by utilizing easy-to-clean materials, reducing hygiene concerns commonly associated with fabric seats.

Promote Social Distance

By incorporating an open-wing design, Freshie helps to reduce accidental contact between passengers, promoting personal space and reducing the spread of contaminants in crowded public transport environments.

Increase Durability and Comfort

The design focuses on using materials that resist staining and wear, ensuring longer-lasting seats while maintaining passenger comfort through ergonomic design features like angled seating.

“Starting the day with a fresh and positive feeling!”

Open Wing Design:

The open-wing design naturally forms a physical barrier between passengers, clearly defining personal space.

the Less the Better:

Remove unnecessary area to reduce the proportion of bacteria on the surface.

Reduced Height - freshie is designed with an optimal height for the general public, offering a lower profile while still providing adequate back support.
Reduce the Use of Cloth - freshie uses minimal fabric to provide comfort and reduce the surface area for bacteria.
Mechanism