Background

A van is a light commercial vehicle used for transporting goods or passengers, that range from microvans that are based on small passenger cars, to larger models based on light or medium commercial vehicle chassis. Vans are ideally suited to most small and medium-sized businesses and private contractors, therefore they are the most common type of commercial vehicle to be found on the roads. Custom-built vans are specially designed and outfitted to perform a particular function or to support the work of the business or contractor. Vans may be outfitted in special ways with seating and living spaces for passengers; with space for cargo; or with the facilities and equipment for entrepreneurs or contractors doing their work. Vans can be custom-built or modified into motorhomes, ambulances, market stalls, and so forth. The goal is to have a mobile facility to support specific activities, so that they may be done efficiently, in comfort, and safety. (Note that this design topic is not about hot rod stylish customised vehicles.)
 

The design brief

Design a fully-electric custom-built van based on a light commercial vehicle, or a medium commercial vehicle with two axles. Your custom-built van may be used to support one or more users engaged in one particular business, trade, scientific pursuit, leisure, or other activity of your choosing. Your custom-built van ought to aid, facilitate, equip, and provide good conditions for people to do their activities safely. For example, you may design a custom-built van for market-stall vendors, or for amateur astronomers, or for pigeon racers, and so forth. Begin with an existing electric van or truck and design only the part of the truck to be customised. You need not design the vehicle cabin, nor the rolling chassis. Build a small-scale model of your custom-built van to demonstrate your design concept to your fellow students and teachers. Alternatively, you may build a computer-aided design (CAD) model of your design concept, if you prefer. Work on this project in a small team with a group of your classmates.
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The design thinking process

Follow the six stages of the design thinking process to ensure that you are thorough and do everything necessary to succeed in your design project. First, you endeavour to understand the design topic and EMPATHISE with the needs of the users. With that understanding, you can DEFINE what is essential to the product or system that you are designing. Then you IDEATE, that is, you creatively come up with ideas and develop them. The next step is to PROTOTYPE your chosen design solution in a physical form and improve it through trial-and-error. Then you TEST your design idea to elicit the opinions of users. And finally, at the end of the process, you REFLECT upon your project to benefit from the experience. Use the appropriate methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website as you proceed along the design thinking process.
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Note for teachers

Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the PROTOTYPE Stage for Level IV to safely supervise this design project.