Designing for sail propulsion

‍Sails are increasingly viewed as the most significant enhancement to the current international fleet of ships, offering a promising avenue for sustainable energy with minimal infrastructure requirements. With a rising number of vessels under development featuring sail support, and existing vessels being retrofitted with sails, the interest in harnessing wind energy is evident. However, despite substantial investments in this area, the maritime industry lacks established user interface design patterns for operating this new category of sail-supported vessels.

In this project, you will design a novel digital user interface to support the operation of large, sail-equipped vessels. This initiative provides you with the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners who are at the forefront of developing new sail systems, as well as with users who have experience operating these innovative systems. Additionally, you will receive support from designers and researchers affiliated with the OpenZero research project, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your design process

Your journey will encompass an array of activities, including:

- Research on existing sail interfaces for small ships and the current interfaces for large vessels.
- User research to understand the needs, preferences, and challenges of those operating sail-supported ships.
- Design sketching and prototyping to visualize and refine your ideas.
- User testing to validate and improve your designs based on real-worldfeedback.

This project represents a unique opportunity to contribute to the sustainable evolution of maritime transportation by designing user interfaces that enhance the operability and efficiency of sail-supported vessels. Through your work, you will help shape the future of shipping, making it more eco-friendly and efficient.

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