Master Dissertation

Título Design de informação e intermodalidade nos transportes em Aveiro.

Autor Joana Guedes Santos

Docente orientador Rui Miguel Ferreira Roda

Docente co-orientador Rui Carlos Ferreira Cavadas da Costa

Keywords Territory, visual information, mobility, transports, interactio

Abstract

The present study aims to reflect on the role of Design as a discipline able to promote the regeneration of Aveiroʼs “intermediate city”. Under Information Designʼs perspective, the designerʼs activity interacts with information fluxes oriented towards urban mobility, responding to the challenges of giving visibility to transport networks, designing clear graphic interfaces, able to render the whole system more flexible, attractive and effective.

It starts with an historic approach to cities and mobility, referencing facts and visions regarded as significant to the topic under analysis. A study of transport usersʼ centred information and communication is undertaken, with the description of relevant examples. The case study of the “intermediate city” of Aveiro is presented, whose potential for the development of intermodal transportsʼ system enables the design of possible interventions. Actual mobility fluxes in this territory are characterized, as well as information available about public, municipal and private transports. Finally, through the incremental knowledge accrued, a scenario of intervention within the scope of Information Design is put forward, which envisages to respond to the challenges Aveiro faces at the transports level.

As a broad conclusion, it is identified the need to restructure public transports in accordance with intermodal systems so as to reconcile economic development and access with quality of life. Starting a “dialogue” with an “educated society”, the different types of information, different media and the investment on a graphic language all play a key role in the visualization and optimization of fluxes, enabling a new take on the use of the city. It is also argued that new technologies, by being a central element to the growing urban complexity, can enable this intermodal vision, since an information system that is co-participated and able to integrate multi-services information promotes the link between different modes of transport and civic participation.

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