u-turn

academic work · design system · 2025

problem

car vs. public transport is one of the most polarizing debates in urban mobility – yet most arguments stay abstract. people know the statistics but rarely feel the trade-offs of either choice in a visceral way.

idea

turn the debate into a game. two teams compete head-to-head in a spatial installation – one drives, one rides public transport. both face real obstacles. the winner is decided by play, not opinion.

solution

a room-sized immersive board game splits visitors into two sides. the car team deals with traffic jams and parking costs; the public transport team navigates route planning and delays. microcontrollers, reactive sound and lighting, and „event cards“ played by opponents make every trade-off physically felt – not just discussed.