GARMIN CITY

Garmin City is a set of smart handlebars for the emerging E-bike market designed as an intern project while working for Garmin in 2017. The project was an exercise in applying Garmin technology and design language to an innovative product, and was intended to explore a potential new market space for the company. The design has since been used to present to E-bike manufacturers and start discussions on Garmin involvement in OEM parts for future electric bicycles.

This project was based on the explosion of the E-Bike market, projected to more than double by 2020. The project started as a broad analysis of the general market, which highlighted a few key opportunities. Above all, I discovered that the design of bikes hadn’t yet caught up to the paradigm shift to electric biking, leaving interaction areas cluttered and potential for smart componentry underutilized.

The initial process was broad and fluid, working individually and as a team to imagine how components could be integrated into the E-bike, what interaction could look like, who a typical user would be, and so on. (Sketches directly below from a group brainstorm at Garmin)

Initial sketching led to 5 rough form directions, demonstrating a variety of methods of construction and interaction. Half and full scale 3D prints were used to evaluate and progress form and proportion.

Form was further refined working back and forth between 3D modeling and printing and 2D sketching. Each interaction point in the handlebars was printed several times to assess and adjust proportion and ergonomics.

The final design features fully integrated electronic wiring, with access via a titanium plate on the bottom of the handlebars. The brake cables were left exposed along the underside of the bars to allow easy access for repairs and to pay homage to the mechanical nature of the bicycle.

The top face of the basic model is a rear radar display, a technology that Garmin already utilizes to warn urban cyclists when cars are approaching them from behind.

In the interest of reaching a wider target market, the top module is able to be upgraded and swapped out for a bluetooth connected display that links to the bike’s computer and to other Garmin devices to track speed, calories, mileage, heart rate, and more. The module is easily removable and acts as the key to the bike, removing it arms the alarm and replacing it unlocks it.

I worked closely with the Garmin prototyping team to create an appearance model of the concept with resin printed parts painted and assembled by them.