The Latch is a conceptual pole wrapper system designed by Steve SH Kim exclusively for metal poles located in subways and buses. The wrapper provides an added safety measure by allowing passengers aboard often crowded and busy moving vehicles have better grip.
Metal poles frequently located throughout transit systems around the world can be tricky to hold onto, making the Latch system an asset. The wrapper is made from silicone with a perforated design that provides added grip as well as an insulated barrier between the metal pole and the consumer's hands. The silicone wrapper also includes a handy hook point for riders to hang their bags, umbrellas and totes onto without taking up valuable floorspace. The versatility of the Latch makes the device an asset to many transit systems.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Enhanced Public Transport Safety
- Conceptual pole wrapper systems such as the Latch offer innovative solutions in increasing user safety and convenience on public transit.
- Crowdsourced Innovation in Public Infrastructure
- Designers from diverse backgrounds adapting consumer-centric designs to underserved areas of public infrastructure such as metal poles can provide cutting-edge solutions in public transportation.
- Smart Mobility Solutions
- The perforated silicone design used in the Latch not only increases grip for commuters but also offers an insulated barrier utility for smarter transportation systems.
Where This Applies
- Public Transit
- Design thinkers can extend safety features of innovative products like pole wrappers to various touchpoints in public transit and offer disruptive solutions in the industry.
- Safety Equipment
- Pole wrappers like the Latch can find commercial use as innovative safety equipment, thereby opening new possibilities for improvements in the safety products industry.
- Consumer Goods
- The Latch's designers introduce a novel way to provide rider convenience and ease of use for personal items, perhaps setting new expectations for consumer goods companies regarding user utility in various contexts.
