Upgrade: Redefining Portable Seating for Public Transit and Beyond

In modern cities, public transport is the backbone of urban mobility. Yet, despite its indispensable role, it often comes with a major compromise: personal comfort. Overcrowded buses, trains, and trams can leave commuters standing for long periods, battling fatigue and inconvenience. Upgrade is designed as a solution to this issue. Lightweight, foldable, and highly versatile, it offers a personal seat that adapts to various transit and public environments. This innovative project by Anna Ebert and Michel Plusje, awarded an Honorable Mention entry in the @ease competition, demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform everyday commuting experiences.

Concept and Vision

The vision behind Upgrade is simple yet transformative: creating personal comfort on the go. By addressing the lack of hygienic, portable, and adaptable seating in transit, Upgrade reimagines the commuter’s relationship with public space. Instead of accepting fatigue as a norm, users can now carry their own foldable, compact seat that unfolds into multiple functional options.

Design Features

Upgrade stands out for its compact portability. The folded form is no larger than a laptop, allowing commuters to carry it effortlessly by hand or in a bag. With its sleek, minimal design and lightweight structure, it combines convenience with versatility.

Key Features:

• Easy Hook System: Designed to attach to vertical poles in public transport, Upgrade transforms into a personal fold-out seat. For overhead handrails, it hooks into place and becomes a swing seat.
• Quick to Install: The design ensures rapid setup—attach, unfold, and sit within seconds.
• Hygienic and Clean: Users carry their own personal seating surface, avoiding shared public seats.
• Versatile Configurations: Four seating options provide flexibility:Clip-on chairSwing seatShort stoolTall stool / multi-use portable surface

Prototype Development

The design was refined through multiple prototype stages, focusing on adaptability, structural strength, and ease of use. Cardboard models demonstrated proof of concept, from foldable slabs to attachable swing and freestanding stools. The evolution of the prototype highlights the project’s emphasis on both practicality and imaginative possibilities.

Applications and Use Cases

Upgrade extends beyond just transport. Its lightweight and portable nature makes it suitable for:

• Daily commuting: Avoid standing fatigue during long journeys.
• Outdoor activities: Acts as a picnic stool or portable surface.
• Public waiting areas: Provides comfort while waiting in queues or stations.
• Creative urban spaces: Adds playful swings or functional stools in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Social Impact

The project is not only about individual comfort but also about rethinking urban infrastructure. By offering commuters agency over their comfort, Upgrade introduces a sustainable, flexible layer to public seating. It enhances accessibility and inclusivity, particularly for people who may find prolonged standing difficult.

Upgrade exemplifies how small-scale, portable design innovations can have a large-scale impact on urban life. Its adaptability across different contexts makes it more than just a seat—it is a lifestyle accessory that improves comfort, hygiene, and convenience in crowded environments. By merging design ingenuity with everyday utility, Anna Ebert and Michel Plusje have delivered a product that redefines what portable seating can mean for commuters and city dwellers alike.

Project by Anna Ebert and Michel Plusje

Honorable Mention entry of @ease