Client: Arcadis | Year: 2022
Context
In 2022, the Arcadis Innovation Studio launched an initiative focused on exploring the intersection of sustainability and mobility—two key pillars of the company’s long-term strategy. With sustainability already embedded in Arcadis’ innovation agenda, our team identified a growing need to proactively shape new approaches to mobility that reflect both environmental priorities and urban infrastructure realities. Drawing on our existing research and global network, we set out to identify future-facing mobility concepts that could unlock new opportunities for Arcadis.
In 2022, the Arcadis Innovation Studio launched an initiative focused on exploring the intersection of sustainability and mobility—two key pillars of the company’s long-term strategy. With sustainability already embedded in Arcadis’ innovation agenda, our team identified a growing need to proactively shape new approaches to mobility that reflect both environmental priorities and urban infrastructure realities. Drawing on our existing research and global network, we set out to identify future-facing mobility concepts that could unlock new opportunities for Arcadis.
Goals
The project had a dual purpose: first, to explore and generate innovative sustainable mobility concepts that address emerging transportation challenges; second, to test and validate a newly defined innovation process within a cross-functional team context. Our goal was to generate tangible, forward-thinking ideas that could align with Arcadis’ strategic direction and open new pathways for applied innovation in the mobility space.
The project had a dual purpose: first, to explore and generate innovative sustainable mobility concepts that address emerging transportation challenges; second, to test and validate a newly defined innovation process within a cross-functional team context. Our goal was to generate tangible, forward-thinking ideas that could align with Arcadis’ strategic direction and open new pathways for applied innovation in the mobility space.
Methods
I led the research and early-stage concept development, guiding the team through a structured innovation process inspired by design thinking and strategic foresight. We began with desk research and stakeholder interviews across relevant domains—including urban planning, mobility, and sustainability—to surface key challenges and unmet needs.
I led the research and early-stage concept development, guiding the team through a structured innovation process inspired by design thinking and strategic foresight. We began with desk research and stakeholder interviews across relevant domains—including urban planning, mobility, and sustainability—to surface key challenges and unmet needs.
These insights fueled our collaborative ideation phase, where I facilitated creative workshops with a multidisciplinary team spanning business analysis, creative technology, and service design. Together, we generated, synthesized, and prioritized concept directions with the potential to address both user and systemic needs.
We presented a selection of refined concept directions to key business stakeholders at Arcadis, using their feedback to further align ideas with internal capabilities, market relevance, and strategic fit. This iterative engagement ensured that our innovation efforts remained grounded in real-world constraints and opportunities.
Outcome
Our work received strong support from Arcadis leadership, with several converged concepts greenlit for further development. This internal validation highlighted the relevance of sustainable mobility as a strategic growth area for the company. Notably, our collaboration led to a formal partnership with Arcadis’ Hong Kong office, where sustainable mobility challenges are particularly acute. This partnership created a concrete pathway for piloting and adapting our concepts within a real-world urban context, extending the reach and potential impact of our work beyond the initial exploration phase.
Our work received strong support from Arcadis leadership, with several converged concepts greenlit for further development. This internal validation highlighted the relevance of sustainable mobility as a strategic growth area for the company. Notably, our collaboration led to a formal partnership with Arcadis’ Hong Kong office, where sustainable mobility challenges are particularly acute. This partnership created a concrete pathway for piloting and adapting our concepts within a real-world urban context, extending the reach and potential impact of our work beyond the initial exploration phase.
Testimonial
"I worked closely with Ben at Arcadis' Global Innovation Studio. As a non-UX researcher myself, I learnt a lot from him around research methodologies, avoiding bias, design, facilitating workshops and interviews, and getting to the heart of human needs and desires. He is also great fun to work with, brings humor into the work setting, and places a lot of emphasis on good team dynamics. One thing that really sets Ben apart is that you can tell he genuinely cares about the cause of his work; making a positive difference to the world, doing things the 'right' way, consistently having the goals of the business in mind."
- Alice Parker, Business Architect
"I worked closely with Ben at Arcadis' Global Innovation Studio. As a non-UX researcher myself, I learnt a lot from him around research methodologies, avoiding bias, design, facilitating workshops and interviews, and getting to the heart of human needs and desires. He is also great fun to work with, brings humor into the work setting, and places a lot of emphasis on good team dynamics. One thing that really sets Ben apart is that you can tell he genuinely cares about the cause of his work; making a positive difference to the world, doing things the 'right' way, consistently having the goals of the business in mind."
- Alice Parker, Business Architect
