Design students to present innovative projects for city transportation

LAWRENCE — The public is invited to attend project presentations by three University of Kansas Department of Design students who are recipients of the 2015-2016 MV Transportation Scholarship. The presentations and reception will be from 4-5 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Forum in Marvin Hall. 

Alexander Guinn, industrial design student, is working in partnership with the School of Architecture, Design & Planning’s Center for Design Research to develop a Safe Beacon prototype.

"The Safe Beacon Project is to improve the SafeRide and SafeBus system by increasing the awareness, usage and efficiency for students,” Guinn said. "The project's goal is to develop an actionable architecture that provides information, takes ride requestand increases awareness of the programs."

The team of graphic design student Lynne Pierce and industrial design student Parker Lathrop, also in the Department of Design, is developing a new brand image for Lawrence Transit, accompanied with the creation of a mobile app that features a trip planner, to increase riders’ satisfaction in the public transportation system.

The final logo and complete brand image will be revealed at the project presentation April 29.

“This year’s student projects both offer great potential to have a very positive and practical impact on our products and services,” said Michael Sweeten, MV’s general manager responsible for managing the Lawrence Transit operation. “I can’t wait to see the presentations.”

The MV Transportation Scholarship was created in 2014 and is designed to support student initiatives and experiential learning opportunities for current KU students.

“It is truly exciting to be involved with students that bring different perspectives and approaches to what we do," said Robert Nugent, transit administrator for Lawrence Transit System.

“MV Transportation not only provides an excellent transportation service, but supports and encourages good scholarship for students interested in the field of public transit. 

"We are pleased to be working with them,” said Danny Kaiser, associate director of KU Parking and Transit.

Scholarship funding is provided by MV Transportation with support from the city of Lawrence, KU Parking and Transit, KU Experiential Learning and the KU Endowment Association.