• Material Choices: Think about using lightweight and strong materials, such as aluminum or composite materials, which would contribute to both speed and energy efficiency.

• Interior Design and Comfort: Consider what makes train travel comfortable. Could you include areas with reclining seats, larger windows, or even quiet zones for passengers? Thinking about these aspects could give your design a unique edge.

• Capacity Planning: Determine how many passengers you aim to accommodate in each car. This will help you refine the dimensions of doors, windows, and aisles for optimal flow and comfort.

• Specialized Spaces: Are there any unique areas like bike storage, luggage zones, or even standing areas for short trips? Including these could address the needs of various travelers, from commuters to tourists.

• Sustainable Features: Consider how to integrate eco-friendly technologies. Could the train run on renewable energy sources? Solar panels on the roof, for instance, might power interior lights or smaller systems.

• Storyboard or Use-Case Scenarios: You might find it helpful to create a quick storyboard showing passengers boarding, finding seats, and departing. This would make it easier to visualize and refine the user flow and space utilization.

• Prototyping Ideas: As you develop the prototype, use simple materials like cardboard or foam to test layouts and seating arrangements. Since you have access to LEDs, you could even add them to simulate lighting and give the model a more polished look.

• Layered or Multi-Level Design: You could create a double-deck structure or raised sections to give a feeling of spaciousness and allow for unique viewing angles. If it's possible to separate different zones (like a commuter level and a lounge level), that could add to the design’s functionality.

• Integrated Lighting Design: With your access to LEDs, you could incorporate lighting into the exterior to highlight its shape at night. Consider strips along the edges or around the windows for a futuristic look.

Shape Exploration

• Wave or Ripple Form: Add subtle curves along the body of the train, mimicking waves or ripples. This could create a flowing effect, as if the train itself is in motion even when stationary. You could have the roof dip down slightly in sections or make the sides appear to "wave" along the length.

• Biomimicry Inspired by Sharks or Dolphins: Take inspiration from marine life for a sleek, streamlined shape. For example, the nose could mimic a shark's head or dolphin’s snout, creating a tapered, organic front with flowing lines along the sides that resemble fins or gills.

• Floating or Suspended Look: Design the body to appear as though it’s floating above the wheels or track, with a gap or clear space around the base. You could achieve this in the prototype by using transparent materials or gaps, which could give a futuristic levitating effect.

• Hexagonal or Faceted Panels: Instead of smooth, rounded surfaces, you could explore a faceted or polygonal design. Using hexagonal or triangular panels across the body could give the train an edgy, futuristic look, similar to some of the latest electric vehicles and architectural styles.

Prototyping ideas:

If you want your design to look like its floating:

Raised Platform Base: To create the floating effect, construct a base for the train with a slight gap between the main body and the base. You can achieve this by attaching small cardboard spacers or transparent plastic pieces beneath the train to give the illusion of levitation.

Check projects here for inspiration:https://sek.nuvustudio.com/projects/114340-past-student-projects/tabs/106407-past-student-projects