Designing Transitions – On Intermodal Mobility Design

As cities grow and transport options multiply, designing integrated, user-friendly mobility systems becomes a central challenge for sustainable and inclusive urban development. The OIMD Conference on Intermodal Mobility Design “Designing Transitions” takes place within the framework of the InterMoDe research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education, Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). It explores how user-centered design can create smooth transitions between modes of transport and increase the acceptance of integrated mobility services.

Rather than focusing on new offers, the project and conference address how existing services can be better connected: how can walking, cycling, public transport, stops, shared-mobility stations, information systems, and digital services be designed to be simple, safe, and comfortable for everyone?

Experts from academia, practice, policy, and industry will present research findings and engage in discussion. The event also features the presentation of the third volume of Mobility Design – Shaping the Future of Mobility (Volume 3: Transfer) (Andersen et al. 2026).

The morning program includes keynote talks, followed by application-oriented workshops in the afternoon, including a Mobility Walk and a discussion on the role of future visions in shaping new mobility.

Schedule – Designing Transitions: Conference on Intermodal Mobility Design

09:30 | Welcome Address
Sabine Groß – Mayor of the City of Offenbach am Main

10:00 | Introduction
Prof. Kai Vöckler – Professor of Urban Design, Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach
Presentation of the InterMoDe research project and an overview of the workshops

11:00 | Keynote 1
Weert Canzler – WZB Berlin Social Science Center
Insights from the accompanying research of the InterMoDe project

11:30 | Keynote 2
Christoph Overs – Zukunftsnetz Mobilität NRW
Practical perspectives from mobility practice

12:00 | Lunch Break

13:00 | Workshops

01 Mobility Walk – Exploring transfers between transport modes from different perspectives

02 GIS & Environment Maps – Understanding intermodal spaces and connections

03 Future Vision – The role of future scenarios in mobility planning and communication

04 Best Practices – Learning from successful examples in other cities

05 Shaping Collaboration – Strengthening communication and planning processes

15:30 | Coffee Break

16:30 | Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks

From 17:00 | Get-Together

WORKSHOPS

01 MOBILITY WALK
Suitcases, strollers, and other perspectives – What does transferring between modes of transport in the city feel like?

During a guided city walk through a selected transfer situation in Offenbach, participants will explore how it feels to change between different modes of transport from various perspectives: with a suitcase, stroller, or limited mobility.

The workshop jointly analyzes how design influences orientation, stay quality, and accessibility – and how urban mobility actually feels when the perspective shifts.

02 INTERMODAL ENVIRONMENT MAPS
Understanding and communicating intermodal spaces

Using digital maps and GIS data, the spatial relationships around central mobility hubs are examined and visualized. The workshop highlights how existing mobility services interlock and identifies where design can create new connections.

03 FUTURE VISION
The role of future visions in communication

Future visions shape how people think and talk about mobility. This workshop explores the significance of visual and narrative future scenarios in planning processes – how they provide orientation, stimulate discussion, and make complex relationships understandable. Participants will jointly reflect on their impact and use in communicating mobility topics.

04 BEST PRACTICES
Comparing designs

Based on selected examples from different cities, the workshop discusses how transfer situations can be designed and what lessons can be learned from successful projects. Participants are invited to examine different approaches, discuss their qualities, and relate them to the design guidelines developed in the project.

05 SHAPING COLLABORATION
Strengthening communication and simplifying processes

Typical challenges in planning and designing intermodal mobility are made visible using practical examples. Building on this, participants learn methods to support clearer and more effective collaboration. Together, they then develop ways to transfer these approaches to their own planning practice.

–> Registration (for free)

6 March 2026
Designing Transitions – Conference on Intermodal Mobility Design
17:00, Aula HfG Offenbach, Schlossstraße 31, Offenbach