London based design agency LAYER has developed Joyn, a near-future concept for an autonomous ride sharing platform that is explicitly designed to be shared and that makes ride sharing more desirable as a form of transport. Due to the arrangement and the design of the seats, passengers are offered more privacy while traveling with strangers. A seat can be booked with the Joyn app. Vehicles nearby are located and passengers can directly see which seats are still available. 

The vehicle consists of two rows of four modular seat pairs facing opposite direction in order to maximise the privacy of each individual. The seatbacks feature stowable tables with smart tech provisions including charging ports and folding tablet stands. The exterior of Joyn is designed as a smart glass “bubble”, which allows the passengers to have a great view outside.

The Joyn app is designed to be simple and intuitive for booking a seat. Besides it is also an exciting and engaging social network that rewards positive behaviours and creates a community to drive environmental action. Passengers earn points after every ride with Joyn. These points can be converted at Joyn partners such as café’s or restaurants.

We are highly impressed not only by the great interior design that sets itself apart from traditional transport design but also by the concept of designing a ride-sharing platform that integrates privacy, security and the environmental benefits of sharing a vehicle.

“The world is in the midst of an environmental emergency. This near-future concept addresses both the need for a more comfortable rideshare 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.” – Benjamin Hubert, Founder of LAYER

Pictures: LAYER
Text: Britta Reineke