CARY, N.C. (September 26, 2008) – HumanCentric (www.humancentric.com), an integrated product design and development company, was recognized in the CityRacks Design Competition as one of the judges’ favorite submissions. Held in New York City, this honor was given to less than four percent of entries. The contest was part of an effort to promote greener transportation modes among New Yorkers.
HumanCentric’s multidisciplinary team included industrial and graphic designers; design engineers; and human factors practitioners, all dedicated to elevating bicycle usage. The team has begun looking at ways to leverage their work for the Cycle Spot design in the Triangle.
“We are excited about the possibility of seeing the design on our local streets,†said Alex Hussain, design engineer at HumanCentric. “The CityRacks competition has given our team the opportunity to improve the design with aspirations of one day seeing it in the Raleigh-Durham community.â€
With an emphasis on usability, ease of manufacturing and refined aesthetics, the team designed a bike rack that focused on the basic need to secure and stabilize the bike frame from multiple points. Branded as the Cycle Spot, the design included a plan for color-coded signage based on neighborhood location of the rack, as well as iconic instructions for locking a bike properly. The team also explored materials and finishes that were environmentally friendly, such as stainless steel, a 100 percent recyclable material.
About HumanCentric:
HumanCentric is an integrated design and development company with a foundation based on the commitment to make user-friendly products by studying and understanding the end user. HumanCentric leverages Human Factors, Design Research, Industrial Design, Graphic and Interaction Design and Design Engineering to simplify and enhance user experiences. At HumanCentric, the goal is to understand how users interact with a product or system and translate that understanding into a compelling solution-blending form with function, utility with usability, safety with satisfaction. HumanCentric is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina with a regional office in Chicago. Visit www.humancentric.com.
About the CityRacks Design Competition:
The CityRacks Design Competition, part of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s PlaNYC, hopes to promote greener modes of transportation and encourage more New Yorkers to begin two-wheel commuting around their city. The competition was sponsored by the New York Department of Transportation and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Patricia E. Harris (First Deputy Mayor of New York City), Ellen Lupton (Curator of Contemporary Design at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum), David Byrne (Musician/Artist/Cyclist) and Steve Madden (Editor-in-Chief of Bicycling Magazine) were among the judges for the competition. Entries can be viewed at http://nycityracks.wordpress.com.
