Complexity → Clarity : Zoox
How research and design synthesis revealed new possibilities for autonomous mobility.
This spring, California College of the Arts partnered with Zoox and Autodesk to explore the future of autonomous mobility, and I had the opportunity to lead the Investigative Studio.
Rather than focusing purely on technology, our studio asked a different question: What new human experiences become possible when the driver disappears?
Sixteen students conducted deep research throughout San Francisco, studying not only autonomous vehicles, but also biking, walking, camping, public transit, urban logistics, and social behavior. The research generated a tremendous amount of information, observations, contradictions, and insights — so much that it was initially difficult to fully digest.
But this is often where design begins.
Through mapping, synthesis, iteration, and countless discussions — both internally and with outside reviewers — the complexity gradually began to resolve into clearer patterns and opportunities. Over time, four distinct areas emerged: Family/Micro Weekday/Weekend.
The resulting concepts were remarkably diverse.
One team designed an autonomous vehicle for teenagers too young to drive — balancing independence for kids with peace of mind for parents.
Another imagined “car camping without the car,” where an autonomous vehicle drops families and gear at campsites, then departs and returns later for pickup
A micro-mobility team explored bike-lane-scale transportation for dense urban living, creating an open-air vehicle optimized for local loops, climbing gear, groceries, and flexibility.
Another focused on mobility, dignity, and cultural nuance for an elderly shopper navigating San Francisco’s Chinatown markets.
What emerged was not simply vehicle design, but a broader exploration of how autonomy may reshape behavior, infrastructure, and human interaction. The most interesting discoveries were often not technological — they were human.
In other words: complexity → clarity.
If you’re navigating complexity and looking for clarity through design, strategy, and research, I’d love to connect.
ian@icm.studio