WHO?

YELLOW DESIGN FOUNDATION is a multidisciplinary, European, and interregional platform for research and information on community-oriented design. Our main fields of activity are mobility, urban planning, and public space making.

Our team of experts

Andrea Soehnchen

Dr João Cruz

Glenn H. Frommer

Anne Leemans

Rob Mayo

Dr João Cruz

Dr João Cruz currently teaches at the University of Fine Arts in Lisbon, Portugal. João graduated in Interior and Industrial Design from the University of Lisbon, Portugal in 1997. He received his Master’s Degree in Product, Materials and Product Management by the University of Aveiro, Portugal in 2005. His thesis was entitled, “Design against crime in the public transportation networks of Lisbon and Oporto areas”.

Obtained his PhD at the University of Aveiro on 2015 after a three year research on “The role of design on the physical comfort and psychological well being of passengers on long haul trains in Portugal”.

Glenn H. Frommer

Glenn is amongst the pioneers of the sustainability and the environmental movement, having worked in the field for more than 30 years. His understanding and application of corporate risk management and corporate reporting have helped set the gold standard for sustainability strategy development and management. In the course of his career, Glenn held senior executive positions with the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, Vipac Engineers and Scientists and Dampa A/S. His extensive cross-sector and cross-industrial experience extends throughout the international arena, specifically in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Glenn has worked with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) since 2000, involved in drafting technical supporting documents to the GRI G3.1 and G4 guidelines.

Anne Leemans

Anne graduated in applied linguistics in 1981. She has been Yellow design Foundation’s Secretary General since 2004. She is dedicated to promoting transversal cooperation and make experts in mobility, urban planning safety & security, energy and environment integrate their findings in the interest of sustainability and to the benefit of users: passengers, pedestrians and cyclists, but also other stakeholders of quality public space.

Rob Mayo

Rob Mayo is a specialist in user experience design and service performance.
With 40+ years experience living and working in Asia, he has deep knowledge of Japan, Korea and China marketing, communications, customer service, customer experience, customer loyalty and service delivery methods.
He has worked for a number of global public and private sector organisations over the years and since 2011, has been a consultant on strategy, design, performance and passenger experience to public transport service providers in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North & South America. Rob’s focus is on the merging of digital with physical user experience strategies / initiatives to move service providers to higher levels of performance through human-centered design thinking.
Rob is also a Lead Trainer, Assessment Panel Member and Working Group Chair for the UITP.

Andrea Soehnchen

Andrea Soehnchen is a Civil Engineer, specialised in infrastructure and transport planning. She joined UITP in 2001 as a project manager in security and crisis management activities. She then worked some years for Securitas, a leading private security corporation, as Strategic Development Director in charge of the public transport segment.

As latest venture Andrea founded TransFortis, a consultancy focussing on helping organisations develop sound innovation and business strategies enabling them to adapt to changes and disruptions of their business context. Experienced in innovation and strategy consulting, she is now supporting UITP as trainer and the manager of the Urban Mobility Open Payment Forum.