The conventional development of a new automobile starts with a first proportional model. In this model, the exterior geometry of a car can be distinguished into vehicle, power train portfolio, market requests, safety requirements, and design target. The interior design results from the proportional model with specific characteristics, such as spaciousness, control and display concept, and ergonomic requirements. The automobile emerged from the sole purpose of transportation with driver orientation into a vacation or commuter experience of all users by a broad spectrum of comfort- and infotainment features. This is sustained by emerging mobility concepts like autonomous car concepts. In order to consider this change in mobility concepts, consumer habits and mobility behavior of users, the interior design becomes more important, which creates the frame for this PhD project. An essential part of the interior is the seat. This PhD thesis focuses on designing car interiors from the inside to the outside by user involvement. @en

In designing interiors of cars, trains and airplanes it is important to have an idea what activities people perform. Therefore, activities of 354 1st and 2nd class train passengers were observed. Previous research has shown that train passengers spend their time mostly on reading, relaxing (i.e., staring or sleeping), conversing and working on laptop. The increased use of smart phone past years may affect train passengers’ pass time. However, data are not available to affirm this. To validate this assumption, recordings were made of activities in trains in 2017 and 2018. Results show that 48% of the passengers use their smart phone in the train. This implies the need for new guidelines for train interior design and other vehicle interior design.@en

In designing interiors of cars, trains and airplanes it is important to have an idea what activities people perform. Therefore, activities of 354 1st and 2nd class train passengers were observed. Previous research has shown that train passengers spend their time mostly on reading, relaxing (i.e., staring or sleeping), conversing and working on laptop. The increased use of smart phone past years may affect train passengers’ pass time. However, data are not available to affirm this. To validate this assumption, recordings were made of activities in trains in 2017 and 2018. Results show that 48% of the passengers use their smart phone in the train. This implies the need for new guidelines for train interior design and other vehicle interior design.@en