We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer DANCER about their original and creative Electric City Bus design work. DANCER is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original electric city bus works.
DANCER ("DANCER") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Dancer Electric City Bus. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
DANCER : Dancer electric city bus draws its inspiration from sea-yacht design. Our main design principle is always in sync with "the form follows function" concept. We want the aesthetics to come from the structure and function of the object.
DANCER : Public transport, including city busses, is perceived as a slow and uncomfortable means of transport. We want to change this perception. Dancer electric city bus is designed to be visually and physically as light as possible, making it a real Dancer on the roads. The silhouette from the front and rear is wider at the lower part. With a lower center of weight, just as of a sports vehicle, Dancer is nimble on the road. The silhouette from the side is skewed backward, creating a sense of movement.
DANCER : Dancer is improving every day. Visually and technically. It already lost its rearview mirrors and video cameras are in place, creating a much smoother body. Additional side bumpers to be installed to highlight the stability silhouette and improve safety. The structural and electrical engineers are reducing the weight as we speak by optimizing the structural elements for mass production. Our IT department is updating the software to further reduce energy consumption and to increase user-friendliness. The structural and electrical engineers are reducing the weight as we speak by optimizing the structural elements for mass production. Our IT department is updating the software to further reduce power consumption and increase user-friendliness.
DANCER : Visual design and its synchronization with structural elements took less than a year. Further manufacturing optimizations and prototype production took more than two years.
DANCER : We designed the Dancer bus inhouse. This design is unique to our company and is protected by the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
DANCER : Please see answer No. 5
DANCER : Yes, in the first stages of design we organized several workshops. The first was with leading architects and urbanists from Lithuania, regarding integration into the urban environment. The most unusual was conducted with primary school children, asking them "What is your dream bus?". With the main design academies of the country.
DANCER : City municipalities and private transport operators, as well as commuters.
DANCER : The smooth and sharp lines of Dancer sets it apart from any other city bus.
DANCER : The name Dancer invites the people to spend time together, as any dancer it attracts attention, is well looking, and is in motion.
DANCER : Various - hand sketching, prototype building, CAD
DANCER : Dancer is the most ecological vehicle in the world due to ultra-lightweight, significant use of recycled materials in production, and the concept to use green energy only.
DANCER : All the visual and technical design was made inhouse. Our team is composed of structural, mechanical, electrical engineers, designers, and programmers.
DANCER : Change of power train technology was an essential factor enabling such a light design. Electric motors are set adjacent to the wheels, batteries are fitted under the seats and other components seamlessly incorporated into the body. No elements are obstructing the city view for passengers. This makes the interior spacious and light. Plus, HVAC, fuel tanks, or any other components don't stick out of the sleek Dancer body.
DANCER : Yes, the shape of Dancer body was optimized not only to look light and nimble but also to be structurally sound and physically light as possible.
DANCER : Manufacturing light composite elements while using recycled materials is always a challenge.
DANCER : We believe in what we do.
