The Mobius Van is a fully-autonomous, vocational vehicle platform that uses the packaging freedom afforded by electrification to open and create an impromptu interior/exterior space. The van is offered as a service and has a modular interior which is designed to be kitted out for specific use-cases.

The configuration presented here is for up-and-coming touring musicians seeking an all-in-one solution for lodging, rehearsal, and performance. Traditional avenues for live performances are dwindling and the Mobius Van offers a novel way for artists to connect with their audience by using 90 degree turn wheels to open the front half into a spacious stage.

The modularity comes into play in the rear half of the vehicle where interior sections cut across the vehicle's length. In the presented configuration this area contains a shower, bathroom, kitchen area, sleeping/storage quarters, and a communal congregation space. This configuration sleeps two musicians, as touring acts are generally trending smaller, but the Mobius can be outfitted to accommodate more people. Features such as a fold-away induction stove and swiveling seats enable a better utilization of space and increased utility allowing musicians to reduce the number of expensive hotel stays.

The front half of the vehicle, or "the front stage", accommodates the different ways musicians prefer to practice and perform. Speakers and lighting are integrated throughout, and performers can control these audiovisual functions through fold-away touch screens or the physical dials. Felt acoustic panels incorporated throughout improve the acoustic response of the interior.

While this configuration shows the use case for touring musicians, the Mobius' modular interior architecture can serve many purposes, such as a food truck, a blood donation vehicle, mobile first aid, and more. The creation of a blended interior/exterior space through the front-end opening provides increased functionalities for all the use cases.

The Mobius is a fully autonomous, for-hire van designed for up-and-coming touring musicians seeking an all-in-one solution for lodging, rehearsal, and performance. Traditional avenues for live performances are dwindling and the Mobius offers a novel way for artists to connect with their audience; the van uses 90 degree turn wheels to open the front half of the vehicle into a stage, allowing musicians to take their craft directly to the streets, festivals, and intimate gatherings.

While this configuration shows the use case for touring musicians, the Mobius' modular interior architecture can serve many purposes, such as a food truck, a blood donation vehicle, mobile first aid, and more. The creation of a blended interior/exterior space through the front-end opening provides increased functionalities for all the use cases.

Vernor Panton's Living Tower inspired the concept of modular interior sections cutting transversely across the vehicle's length. Within this framework is a shower, bathroom, kitchen area, sleeping/storage quarters, and a communal congregation space. This design of this living space, or "the backstage", emphasizes soft sections and calming colors to create a soothing atmosphere. Features such as a fold-away induction stove and swiveling seats ensure maximum functionality and space utilization. Efficient resource usage is also an important consideration; the kitchen and bathroom sinks are combined into one unit, with the user facing portion separated to create a sense of cleanliness while combining greywater stream for reuse. This combination of utility and amenity allows musicians to reduce the number of expensive hotel stays.

The front stage area is designed for rehearsal and performance. Research into how musicians set up their rehearsal spaces revealed that there are 2 types of practice: more informal sessions to work out timing, composition, etc. where musicians prefer to face each other, and more formal sessions where they face the same direction to emulate live performance. Accommodation for these two programs drove the front-stage layout. Speakers and lighting are integrated throughout, and performers can control these audiovisual functions through the fold-away touch screen or the physical dials, allowing control even when the screens are folded. Felt acoustic panels incorporated throughout improve the acoustic response of the interior. The main seating design works around the large front wheel openings of 90 degree turn wheels, which are needed to allow the front stage to open.

The design of this vehicle was heavily facilitated by Gravity Sketch VR. Interior designer Anurag Kurapati worked closely with exterior designer Ian Shafer to think about the interior and exterior design as contributing towards the overall product experience instead of as separate designs to be merged. Gravity Sketch's collaboration tools allowed them to quickly work through interior/exterior layouts and have interior components breakthrough to the exterior to form the front-end graphic. Working in VR allowed the team to get a sense for the scale and overall feel of various layouts The overall design makes the musicians feel like they are inside an open speaker, emphasized by the open glass bubble front end and the monolithic yet inviting front seat sections. By considering the unification of the vehicle into one product like a mobius strip, the Mobius presents a platform which maximizes the utility and comfort it can provide, no matter who it is serving.