Designing for collaboration: Tangerine’s Weiwei He on innovation, transparency and the future of rail interiors
11/11/2025
Weiwei He, Director at Tangerine, is a designer and strategist driving innovation across consumer electronics, retail, automotive, rail, and aircraft interiors. At this year’s Rail Interiors Show, Weiwei will join global experts to explore how collaboration, transparency, and design thinking can transform passenger experiences.
At this year’s Rail Interiors Show, Weiwei He, Director at design consultancy Tangerine, will join international experts to discuss how collaboration, transparency and design thinking can help create better passenger experiences. Ahead of the event, she spoke about the challenges, opportunities and cultural shifts shaping the next generation of train design.
You’re speaking at the Rail Interiors Show this year — what do you think are the most exciting trends or challenges shaping the future of rail interior design right now?
Weiwei said, “For me, one of the key challenges in rail interiors right now is balance — particularly the balance between ambition and practicality.
“Rail operators increasingly want more from their interiors: more comfort, more flexibility, more design value. At the same time, they face constraints around cost, sustainability and delivery timescales.
“As designers, we have to navigate those pressures while still creating experiences that elevate the passenger journey. It’s about finding creative ways to deliver more within the limits of what’s possible.”
Many RFPs are still developed in silos. What do you see as the most common pitfalls of this traditional approach, and how can early supplier involvement help overcome them?
“I think transparency is absolutely essential,” said Weiwei. “Suppliers need to understand what’s required — the timelines, expectations and how many others are being approached for the same opportunity.
“Too often, suppliers hesitate to get involved early because they worry their ideas might be used elsewhere, or that a project isn’t yet real. Clear communication builds trust and helps everyone feel confident to participate. That’s when collaboration truly begins to add value.”
Your presentation focuses on improving the design RFP process through better supply chain collaboration. What inspired you to tackle this topic, and why is it especially relevant to today’s rail interiors landscape?
“This topic came out of real-world experience,” she explained. “In rail design, we often see great ideas get lost because teams work in isolation or because suppliers are brought in too late to influence the outcome.
“At Tangerine, we’ve learned that involving suppliers and operators early on — right from the design brief stage — leads to far stronger results. It’s not just about procurement; it’s about building a shared vision and making sure everyone’s expertise is reflected in the final design.”
For attendees at the Rail Interiors Show, what do you hope they’ll take away from your presentation — and how might it influence the way they approach their next project or RFP?
“I hope people come away inspired to work more collaboratively — not just within their own organisations but across the supply chain,” Weiwei said.
“In future proposals, I’d like to see operators, OEMs and suppliers working together from the outset rather than in silos. When that happens, we can all go home with better approaches and deliver stronger results for the entire industry. That’s really the goal.”
What organisational or cultural shifts are needed to support more collaborative processes in design and procurement? Are there specific strategies you’ve seen work well across different companies or markets?
“Transparency and trust are key,” she said. “Suppliers need to feel that they’re part of the process, not just a cog in it. That means clear communication about expectations, deliverables and how their input will be used.
“In some markets, we’ve seen success where collaboration is embedded from day one — where everyone shares the same project goals and timeline. It sounds simple, but it changes everything. When people feel informed and valued, they contribute more openly and creatively.”
Looking ahead, how do you see the design and procurement process evolving in rail interiors — and what role will cross-functional collaboration play in shaping the future of passenger experience?
“I think the way we respond to design briefs and RFPs is already changing,” Weiwei reflected. “It can’t just be designers responding in isolation anymore.
“We need to engage with suppliers and operators much earlier in the process. Traditionally, things have been quite secretive, with each party working separately. But to get better results, we need openness, shared goals and real collaboration.
“That’s how we’ll create interiors that truly enhance the passenger experience — designs that are not only functional, but human.”
Weiwei He will speak at the Rail Interiors Show in November, sharing insights from across industries and highlighting how collaboration, transparency and design thinking can enhance passenger experiences. For more information about Weiwei’s presentation, click here.
You’re speaking at the Rail Interiors Show this year — what do you think are the most exciting trends or challenges shaping the future of rail interior design right now?
Weiwei said, “For me, one of the key challenges in rail interiors right now is balance — particularly the balance between ambition and practicality.
“Rail operators increasingly want more from their interiors: more comfort, more flexibility, more design value. At the same time, they face constraints around cost, sustainability and delivery timescales.
“As designers, we have to navigate those pressures while still creating experiences that elevate the passenger journey. It’s about finding creative ways to deliver more within the limits of what’s possible.”
Many RFPs are still developed in silos. What do you see as the most common pitfalls of this traditional approach, and how can early supplier involvement help overcome them?
“I think transparency is absolutely essential,” said Weiwei. “Suppliers need to understand what’s required — the timelines, expectations and how many others are being approached for the same opportunity.
“Too often, suppliers hesitate to get involved early because they worry their ideas might be used elsewhere, or that a project isn’t yet real. Clear communication builds trust and helps everyone feel confident to participate. That’s when collaboration truly begins to add value.”
Your presentation focuses on improving the design RFP process through better supply chain collaboration. What inspired you to tackle this topic, and why is it especially relevant to today’s rail interiors landscape?
“This topic came out of real-world experience,” she explained. “In rail design, we often see great ideas get lost because teams work in isolation or because suppliers are brought in too late to influence the outcome.
“At Tangerine, we’ve learned that involving suppliers and operators early on — right from the design brief stage — leads to far stronger results. It’s not just about procurement; it’s about building a shared vision and making sure everyone’s expertise is reflected in the final design.”
For attendees at the Rail Interiors Show, what do you hope they’ll take away from your presentation — and how might it influence the way they approach their next project or RFP?
“I hope people come away inspired to work more collaboratively — not just within their own organisations but across the supply chain,” Weiwei said.
“In future proposals, I’d like to see operators, OEMs and suppliers working together from the outset rather than in silos. When that happens, we can all go home with better approaches and deliver stronger results for the entire industry. That’s really the goal.”
What organisational or cultural shifts are needed to support more collaborative processes in design and procurement? Are there specific strategies you’ve seen work well across different companies or markets?
“Transparency and trust are key,” she said. “Suppliers need to feel that they’re part of the process, not just a cog in it. That means clear communication about expectations, deliverables and how their input will be used.
“In some markets, we’ve seen success where collaboration is embedded from day one — where everyone shares the same project goals and timeline. It sounds simple, but it changes everything. When people feel informed and valued, they contribute more openly and creatively.”
Looking ahead, how do you see the design and procurement process evolving in rail interiors — and what role will cross-functional collaboration play in shaping the future of passenger experience?
“I think the way we respond to design briefs and RFPs is already changing,” Weiwei reflected. “It can’t just be designers responding in isolation anymore.
“We need to engage with suppliers and operators much earlier in the process. Traditionally, things have been quite secretive, with each party working separately. But to get better results, we need openness, shared goals and real collaboration.
“That’s how we’ll create interiors that truly enhance the passenger experience — designs that are not only functional, but human.”
Weiwei He will speak at the Rail Interiors Show in November, sharing insights from across industries and highlighting how collaboration, transparency and design thinking can enhance passenger experiences. For more information about Weiwei’s presentation, click here.