CONCEPT

Blooming City is an urban umbrella rental system that is found at main public spaces. The widespread service contributes to the convenience of the city and dots the motion of the citizens’ rapid pace. Consumers can rent an umbrella at the automatic service points and pick out their favorite pattern/color from a huge variety. They can use the umbrella as long as needed and return it to the vending unit when finished. During their rental period, users can replace their current umbrella phase with any other designs to their liking. Umbrella blossoms sprout here and there as the rain washes over the city. Every urban umbrella takes part in the blooming of the urban garden both in rain and shine.

STRUCTURE

Two units can be combined freely to form the automatic rental service points. The basic module composes of a Vending Unit and several Display Units. The Vending Unit with the touch screen is the main interface. Users select and confirm as well as pay their orders here. They also receive the umbrella handle from this unit. Beside the vending unit, Display Units are placed. With a wide variety of umbrella phases presented here, users have the right to choose upon their preference.

INTERFACE

Rental periods are based on a weekly plan. Users choose for how many weeks they’d like to rent the umbrella. The business strategy of 1 USD-per-week rental fee encourages them to just rent an umbrella instead of buying one. Intended for use at public transportation stations with users at a rapid pace, the vending machine provides quick and easy payment methods either with phone APP or bank cards. An umbrella handle serves as the token. Users keep the handle with them during the rental period.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

With an activated handle, users can choose an umbrella phase to go with the handle at anytime, this also allows them to match the umbrella appearance with their dress code. The cap of the handle can be opened to easily assemble the umbrella phase. After use, the umbrella phase is returned to the Display Unit with easy accessibility throughout the city. Reminders are made through the phone APP and the handle itself. If they wish, users can also extend the rental period at any Vending Units.

CONVENIENCE, FASHION, AND SAFTTY

Umbrella blossoms not only dot the city during daytime, but at night or on rainy gloomy days, the handle can be switched on to become safety torches. This provides the users with additional lighting and a sense of secure as well as decreases the risk of accidents due to bad sight. The handle can also be used alone as flashlights when detached with the umbrella phase. Blooming City takes care of citizens’ convenience, fashion and safety.

SERVICE POINTS

Service points are located at major public spaces, such as airports, Central Station, metro and bus stops, and shopping malls. The initial displays of umbrella design for every service point also shows the surrounding feature. As time pass by, through rent and return, the umbrellas flow through the city and create a motion that represents the trace of people using it. As a result, dynamic and mixed displays of umbrella motions are presented to the public as an evidence of the city flow.