“Take no seat” - getting in and out of the car ergonomically

How can getting in and out of small vehicles be made easier for people with limited mobility? Veigel approached the HPI d-school students with this question. The team developed ergonomic solutions that make small cars more attractive again – for older people, pregnant women or people with temporary disabilities.

For many people, getting in and out of a small car becomes a challenge - be it due to declining mobility in old age, pregnancy or a temporary injury. To improve this everyday situation, the Design Thinking team developed prototypes for new, ergonomic methods that support the user's restricted mobility without emphasizing it.

To begin with, the team sought a direct exchange with potential users and a physiotherapist. The aim was to understand emotions, fears and needs in order to develop a truly helpful solution.

The iterative Design Thinking process gave rise to various concepts, which were ultimately tested in a two-day co-creation workshop with project partner Veigel. Three ideas prevailed:

• A drawstring that makes getting in and out easier
• A door security system that prevents paint scratches on other cars
• A door-stop mechanism that you can pull yourself up by 

Veigel was particularly impressed by the door-stop mechanism hinge – so much so that a market-ready version was developed. But the impact went far beyond the product: the introduction to Design Thinking provided new impetus within the company.

Veigel trained a Design Thinking coach and launched internal innovation projects that utilized this method and mindset.

CEO Jann Swyter emphasizes that since the collaboration with the HPI d-school, teams have been working more across departments, thinking in a more networked way and testing prototypes more quickly. Step by step, this is creating a more agile corporate culture with greater innovation potential.