Rca IconFeb 24, 2000 - A major Royal College of Art research initiative aimed at breaking down barriers between private and public transport design goes public this spring with a special event in London.

'Moving On - the Future of City Transport' is the umbrella title of a screening, seminar and think tank to be held at the Royal Geographical Society and Royal College of Art on 21-22 March. The event, sponsored by the OMRON Corporation of Japan, will bring together key thinkers from the automotive, public transport and urban architecture communities in one forum.

Its purpose is to initiate a forward-looking exploration of the city. To explore how the design of cars and public transport can respond to the fast-changing patterns of urban living and working, and to establish a framework for practical design research which will be carried out by a research unit staffed by Royal College of Art graduates.

'Moving On' has been organised by the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre at the Royal College of Art - which has a remit to investigate 'design for our future selves' - in association with the RCA Vehicle Design Course, an international leader for 30 years in educating automotive designers.

'Moving On' opens on Tuesday 21 March with an open 'film and futures' evening at the Royal Geographical Society entitled 'Visions of City Transport'. RCA Research Fellow (Film) Al Rees will show how cars and city transport have been treated by the movies from 1900 to the present day while Pentagon, GM and Ford future strategist Dr Sheila R Ronis takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the year 2085.

The 'Challenge of City Transport' seminar takes place on Wednesday 22 March from 10am to 1.30pm. Chaired by Karl Ludvigsen, it features industrialists, academics and transport policy-makers, including leading designer Peter Stevens, eminent planner Professor Sir Peter Hall and London First Board Member Honor Chapman.

The events are open to the public and free tickets are available in advance from Margaret Durkan at the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2EU, UK.

tel: +44 (0)20 7590 4242
fax: +44 (0)20 7590 4244
email: m.durkan@rca.ac.uk
website: www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/MovingOn/