The Wing Mate
YO ! WELCOME TO MY CITY !
Tarmac, steel, glass, concrete, hide no secrets from me.
I’ve done away with crowded public transport and have regained my freedom.
No more subways or buses, today I slalom between walls, lamp posts and sidewalks.
No more boring commute, I’m taking myself off the grid.
No more traffic jams, I’ve given up my car for something much far cooler.
For me, sport is about cutting my way through this urban jungle by evolving to break free from the constraints of this labyrinth of cars and concrete, I am the Daedalus of the downtown.
Moving around and making the city my own, I draw my own paths and design my own playgrounds.
OBSERVING THE WING MATE IN THEIR "natural HABITAT"
The first step in designing an experience is observation. Observing users, understanding their needs and analyzing their struggles - we call this the "User Safari".
Like any good wildlife reporters, the members of Advanced have perfected the ability to successfully penetrate deep within the urban jungle.
From there they have encountered fascinating specimens of Wing Mates in their natural environment. Their subsequent observations have allowed them to examine the customs of these “Mates” and gather valuable information which forms the foundation stones of a solid user experience.
JEREMY ON THE USER SAFARI
MEET THE WING MATES
CHLOé
24 YEARS OLD / STUDENT OF ART DIRECTION
“For 5 years now I’ve been getting around my city by skateboard, I mostly use a cruiser. I chose to get around this way because I see it as a form of freedom.. and for me it feels great to just glide over the pavement with the wind in my hair ! Plus, you know.. because you’re actually outside you get to breathe some fresh air into your lungs..”.
KEVIN
21 YEARS OLD / DESIGN STUDENT
“I use my longboard for my daily commute : school, work, home, the usual. What I really enjoy about this mode of transport is that I actually get to be myself.. and to be by myself too. I think about it as a relaxing moment, but also a physical activity”.
KIRIAN
22 YEARS OLD, GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENT
“I am always either going around the city on my skateboard or on my longboard. One or the other. One cool thing is that I don’t face any issues when it comes to parking it when I visit friends or go to school. What do I most enjoy about it? The sensation of speed and being able to navigate through traffic, or even bypass it completely. Of course it doesn’t mean I don’t have to pay attention to other road users, but honestly.. for me skateboarding is great !”
AURéLIEN
23 YEARS OLD / AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNICIAN
“Before I got my skateboard I usually got around on rollerblades, but for the last ten years or so I’ve been doing a mix of rollerblading and skateboarding. My philosophy consists of trying to avoid taking the Metro because there’s too many people on it. I also try to enjoy the city while boarding and like the idea of combining getting around and having fun at the same time. Not only is it good for me, it’s also good for the environment. So why wouldn’t I want to do it ? ”
AND AFTER
All of this information allows us to move on to the next step, building a usage scenario : what is it that makes skateboarding so cool ? What are the limits to skateboarding as a sport, and method of transport ? And what can we work on to overcome these so-called limits ?
Adding some final touches to a sketch : writing a story which embodies the human and athletic passion that lies as the heart of our mission.
Thanks to our work on the concept of the user experience, we can begin to write the story of our “Mates”. These stories give them a name, a face, and help us understand what they like or don't like, what kind of people they hang out with, what motivates them when doing their sport and we can illustrate the solutions that we have conceived for them.
Those stories, presented to you in the form of a comic book, aim to illustrate our vision of where we want the “Mates” to go. They’ll also keep us grounded and remind us of the role we have to play.
With this motto in mind we hope that a little bit of our “Mates” will be found in every experience we design : with emotion and understanding expressed through our products and services.
Wing mate mood
Hello there, I see you there, stuck up against the wall of your subway carriage. Just when you thought the lack of personal space and the smell body odour were bad enough, along came Covid, huh.. Oh well at least the mask might protect you from the smell ...
But hey, here’s an idea. Follow me and I'll have you flying across the city in no time :
Take a look at this skateboard, it's one of a kind, just like you. I can see what you like about it. What’s more is you can use with your eyes closed, it is literally designed for mobility and is ready for the city and its crowded streets. And hey, there is even a lock to keep it safe when you stay out late.
I also have a pair of shoes and a jacket for you. Not only are they stylish, they’ll give you the visibility and safety you want.
Skateboarding is a cool sport, but you gotta protect yourself a little too.
And you’ve gotta protect your board too, so I also made a carry case for you to carry it around in.
Oh yeah ! One last thing, you know good asphalt is the basis of good skating, so Streeco and I have something to explain to you : on the app, there is a GPS, so every time you take a good road, it’s recorded. Originally it was made for disabled people, but now they have tons of skateboard-friendly streets to recommend. You should contribute too!
THAT’S IT !
Well we’ve nothing left to say but, bon voyage, Wing Mate ! You and your equipment are now ready to face what life throws at you ! The rest is up to you. I’m out of here.. after writing this, I’m gonna get away from it all for a few days…
Oh by the way, I strongly advise you to check out the Soul Mate, it’s a distant cousin of the Wing Mate, a little bit more chill, they’ll help you to understand how we work around the emotional needs of a sportsperson :
What the "mate" ?
Don’t waste your time doing useless Facebook surveys to find out what your favourite flower says about your personality, discover your “Mate” right here.
Thanks to your answers, we will be able to draw up a map of the “Mates” ! Ready ? Set ? Go!
