VERA: TRUST IN MOTION
Reimagining public sanitation for the world's largest transit network
Industrial Design
User Research
Systems Design
ROLE
PROJECT OVERVIEW
VERA is a trust-first restroom system designed for India's Vande Bharat Express. Through extensive user research and field observations across railway networks, the project addresses the hidden challenge of passenger uncertainty by reducing contamination, simplifying interactions, and creating a more hygienic, dignified, and inclusive onboard restroom experience.
INDIAN RAILWAYS
VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS
25M
DAILY PASSENGERS
144,000
RESTROOMS BY 2047
4,500
TRAINS (FUTURE PLAN)
FIELD RESEARCH
5,000 KM
Live Field Research
250+
Survey Responses
10+
Experts Interviewed
I spent 100+hours riding, observing, testing inside live train restrooms Not just reading about the problem, but living inside it.
OBSERVATIONS
Modern trains deserve better sanitation.
Current restrooms lead passengers to:
Avoid-Liquids, food
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Hover-With safe gap
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Misuse-Squat over
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Existing Vande Bharat Express restrooms
Proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper Express by Kinet
REAL INSIGHTS
Three words that summed up every conversation I had with passengers before I started designing.
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UNHYGIENIC
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DISCOMFORT
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NO TRUST
The real hygiene gap is TRUST
"To Pee or Not to Pee" paradox.
FRICTION POINTS
Field observation surfaced five recurring moments where trust broke down — each one a design opportunity.
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Trust is the real sanitation metric.
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More seams. More dirt.
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Motion changes ergonomics.
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Open flushing spreads the unseen.
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Visual cues build trust before use
INITIAL IDEATION SKETCHES
150+ concept sketches exploring self-cleaning mechanisms, ergonomic guidance systems, and safer restroom interactions for transit environments.
Disinfectant dispensing & UV cleaning
Hygiene-forward, trustable form
Ease of cleaning & comfort
FORM ITERATION SKETCHES
Sketch exploration focused on improving hygiene, natural posture, and passenger trust in train restrooms. Three design directions emerged for evaluation: Traditional, Transitional, and Contemporary.
PHYSICAL PROTOTYPE TESTING
Scaled prototypes translated concepts into physical form, enabling posture studies, reach analysis, and user interaction testing before full-scale development.
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CAD FORM ITERATIONS
Refined through multiple CAD iterations balancing structural feasibility, user posture, cleanability, and visual identity.
Explored Linear, Arc, and Fold surface transitions, evaluating seam geometry, drain integration, manufacturability, and body support before selecting the final design direction.
USER TESTING AND VALIDATION
Successive Full scale physical prototype was tested with users to evaluate posture, accessibility, reach, and perceived safety.
User feedback informed iterative refinements, validating the design through continuous testing and measurable improvements.
CMF EXPLORATION
Four CMF directions explored color, pattern, and material inspired by Indian textiles, architecture, and landscapes, balancing emotional appeal, durability, and cleanability.
Terracotta Folk
Earthbound Explorear
Warm · Textured · Rooted
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Taupe Heritage
Heritage Curator
Calm · Architectural · Grounded
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Indigo Graphical
NeoLegacy Entrepreneur
Bold · Graphic · Aspirational
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Ochre Biophilic
Wild Nurturer
Natural · Balanced · Trustworthy
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Final CMF – Ochre Biophilic
Inspired by nature, this direction uses layered botanical graphics, warm ochre tones, and stainless steel to create a calming, trust-building atmosphere. The open upper surfaces enhance the sense of spaciousness, while denser foliage patterns on the lower walls help camouflage splashes and wear, resulting in a restroom that feels warm, premium, culturally rooted, and easy to maintain.
TOUCHPOINTS
VERA's surfaces work proactively, sensing presence, containing mess, and maintaining hygiene continuously—keeping the restroom cleaner during use, not just between uses.
USER JOURNEY
Designed through real user scenarios to accommodate diverse body types, clothing, behaviors, wet toilet use, and hygiene routines through intuitive, inclusive interactions.
Ready
Green light shows availability
Entry
Lid opens automatically
Use
Stable seat and ready system
Flush
Lid closes and cleaning begins
Reset
Green light returns, toilet ready
Supports all body types
Mobile shelve + tissue paper holder
Personal Cleansing Using Jet Spray
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Female user performing pad Change & menstrual hygiene
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ECOSYSTEM DESIGN
What began as a product evolved into a complete • Product • Service • System, creating a clean, compliant, and cohesive user experience.
Sink with soap, water, dryer integrated faucet
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Tissue dispenser + phone holder & bidet spray
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Mirror with lighting and 3x magnification
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Illuminated pergola ceiling
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Grab bars
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Signage boards
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DESIGNING FOR HUMAN IMPACT
VERA advances UN SDGs 3, 6, and 11 by promoting public health, improving sanitation, and creating more inclusive and sustainable railway infrastructure.
3 Good Health and Well-Being
6 Clean Water and Sanitation
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
FROM DIGNITY TO VALUE
Improved rail infrastructure strengthens Indian Railways' brand and boosts tourism.
No chemical dependency, minimized environmental burden with residue-free sanitation.
Restores dignity, safety, and trust for both passengers and maintenance staff
THE VIABILITY LOOP
Dignity
Visual Trust
Increased Ridership
Retained Revenue
VERA transforms everyday infrastructure into an experience of dignity, care, and TRUST.
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