EMR AURORA

EMR's new Intercity fleet of 33 five-car bi-mode trains are set to transform connectivity between Sheffield, the East Midlands and London. As Senior Designer at dgdesign, Andy Sykes provided design support throughout the project from concept to delivery.

Andy first supported the initial EMR brand launch with dgdesign in 2019 by developing the brand physical design vision - a style guide which would go on to inform the brand application across trains, stations and workplaces.

Following Hitachi’s successful tender award for new-build high-speed trains, Andy supported EMR in critiquing the bid design and developing the interiors to better reflect the physical design vision.

Andy developed new seating for Standard and First Class, building on a proven “FISA Lean” product with enhancements to appearance, privacy, comfort and maintainability. 

Originally expected to be a continuation of the well-known Hitachi IEP product, Aurora evolved to have an all-new interior architecture. Design input was required on bodysides, luggage racks and stacks, vestibules and toilets, together with an entirely new exterior design.

Andy was involved in all of these elements, together with the livery design.

Andy went on to develop the entire suite of interior and exterior signage, aligning the EMR brand with industry regulation and best-practice signage design.