Designing with emotion and identity: Christiane Bausback on the future of rail interiors
28/10/2025
Christiane Bausback, CEO of N+P Innovation Design, will discuss human-centred approaches to rail interiors, emotional engagement, sustainability, and how design shapes the future of passenger experience.
Christiane Bausback, CEO of N+P Innovation Design, applies a human-centred approach to rail interiors, focusing on functionality, emotional engagement, and sustainability.
In advance of the Rail Interiors Show in November, she spoke with Rail Interiors about how innovation, collaboration, and design thinking are shaping the future of the passenger experience.
N+P Innovation Design is known for its human-centred approach. How do you apply that philosophy to rail interiors, where comfort, function, and identity all need to work together?
“We’ve developed our own step-by-step innovation approach, which we call the Double Infinity Loop,” explains Christiane. “It helps us translate human needs into tangible design outcomes. For us, it’s not only about function or technology – it’s also about creating solutions that are sustainable.”
She adds that this mindset shapes both current and future projects. “We want passengers to experience comfort and emotion today, but also ensure that what we design remains meaningful for future generations of travellers.”
Sustainability is reshaping transport design. How is N+P ensuring that eco-friendly choices still deliver a strong aesthetic and passenger experience?
“Sustainability is a big topic,” Christiane says. “From a technical side, we look at how design can reduce energy consumption – for example, by optimising passenger flow to shorten stopover times.”
Beyond technology, N+P focuses on life-centred innovation that benefits people, communities, and ecosystems. “Material choices are key. We explore recyclable metals, low-emission finishes, and bio-based composites, making sure the experience serves both the planet and the passenger.”
She adds that sustainable design should also feel warm and inviting. “Using natural textures and softer palettes makes interiors more welcoming. People may not see that a fabric is recycled, but they’ll feel comfortable and want to use the train – and that’s when sustainability really works.”
You work closely with rail manufacturers and operators. How are these collaborations changing as the industry focuses more on digitalisation and modular design?
“Modular design is huge,” Christiane says. “It changes how we work together and how we understand each other’s priorities. Designers want to make ideas tangible, operators want their vision realised, and manufacturers need to bring everything to life. Sometimes there are even two design teams – one with the operator and one with the OEM – so communication is absolutely key.”
She notes that digitalisation and modularity are reshaping processes in different ways. “Digitalisation increases efficiency, while modularity helps manufacturers stay faster and more competitive. For operators, modular systems make it easier to realise their overall vision.”
According to Christiane, this shift is leading to “a new generation of vehicles that are smarter, more adaptable, and more human. Digitalisation enhances efficiency, while modularity empowers both passengers and operators to engage in a more flexible, sustainable mobility ecosystem.”
At the Rail Interiors Show, you’ll be among global leaders in design and technology. What trends or innovations are you most excited to see shaping the future of rail interiors?
“It shouldn’t only be about function, technology, and smartness,” says Christiane. “We also need to translate those elements into sustainable solutions that connect emotionally with passengers.”
She believes this emotional dimension will define the next era of design. “An emotional experience should engage all the senses. It’s also time to differentiate operators again. At the moment, many look very similar, so we need to find new solutions on a higher level – something that has never been thought about before.”
Christiane points to lessons from other sectors. “We can learn a lot from the hospitality industry in shaping brands and putting the passenger even more at the centre. Everyone talks about it, but it’s still missing in practice.”
Rail interiors often reflect cultural identity. How do you balance creating a universal passenger experience with designs that feel authentic to each brand or region?
“For me, a universal passenger experience means inclusion and accessibility – that’s what universal design is meant to achieve,” says Christiane. “But of course, that can and should feel different in different cultures.”
She emphasises the importance of local character. “If Switzerland looks like Germany, and Germany looks like Austria, then something has gone wrong. We need to reflect culture, because it’s part of the operator’s brand identity. By looking more closely at cultural and ethnographic contexts, we can create authentic and even iconic designs that truly belong to each region.”
Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest opportunities for design to elevate the rail journey – from materials and sustainability to the overall passenger experience?
“There are so many things to tackle,” Christiane reflects. “The biggest opportunity is to see train travel as part of a larger story – one step within the whole mobility ecosystem.”
She believes the industry must move beyond isolated thinking. “Right now, we still think in silos. A high-speed train stops at the station, but passengers also travel from home to that station. We need to think across all modes of public mobility, not just rolling stock.”
This interconnected approach, she says, could reshape the future of travel. “It should become one holistic travel experience that includes streets, air, and rail. Different brands and operators, who currently compete with each other, will need to work together under one umbrella. Or one operator might need to open up their business and provide door-to-door mobility solutions. That’s where the true potential lies.”
Christiane Bausback will speak at the Rail Interiors Show in November, sharing insights from across industries and highlighting best practices and opportunities for advancing the passenger experience in rail. Book your free delegate pass today by clicking here.
In advance of the Rail Interiors Show in November, she spoke with Rail Interiors about how innovation, collaboration, and design thinking are shaping the future of the passenger experience.
N+P Innovation Design is known for its human-centred approach. How do you apply that philosophy to rail interiors, where comfort, function, and identity all need to work together?
“We’ve developed our own step-by-step innovation approach, which we call the Double Infinity Loop,” explains Christiane. “It helps us translate human needs into tangible design outcomes. For us, it’s not only about function or technology – it’s also about creating solutions that are sustainable.”
She adds that this mindset shapes both current and future projects. “We want passengers to experience comfort and emotion today, but also ensure that what we design remains meaningful for future generations of travellers.”
Sustainability is reshaping transport design. How is N+P ensuring that eco-friendly choices still deliver a strong aesthetic and passenger experience?
“Sustainability is a big topic,” Christiane says. “From a technical side, we look at how design can reduce energy consumption – for example, by optimising passenger flow to shorten stopover times.”
Beyond technology, N+P focuses on life-centred innovation that benefits people, communities, and ecosystems. “Material choices are key. We explore recyclable metals, low-emission finishes, and bio-based composites, making sure the experience serves both the planet and the passenger.”
She adds that sustainable design should also feel warm and inviting. “Using natural textures and softer palettes makes interiors more welcoming. People may not see that a fabric is recycled, but they’ll feel comfortable and want to use the train – and that’s when sustainability really works.”
You work closely with rail manufacturers and operators. How are these collaborations changing as the industry focuses more on digitalisation and modular design?
“Modular design is huge,” Christiane says. “It changes how we work together and how we understand each other’s priorities. Designers want to make ideas tangible, operators want their vision realised, and manufacturers need to bring everything to life. Sometimes there are even two design teams – one with the operator and one with the OEM – so communication is absolutely key.”
She notes that digitalisation and modularity are reshaping processes in different ways. “Digitalisation increases efficiency, while modularity helps manufacturers stay faster and more competitive. For operators, modular systems make it easier to realise their overall vision.”
According to Christiane, this shift is leading to “a new generation of vehicles that are smarter, more adaptable, and more human. Digitalisation enhances efficiency, while modularity empowers both passengers and operators to engage in a more flexible, sustainable mobility ecosystem.”
At the Rail Interiors Show, you’ll be among global leaders in design and technology. What trends or innovations are you most excited to see shaping the future of rail interiors?
“It shouldn’t only be about function, technology, and smartness,” says Christiane. “We also need to translate those elements into sustainable solutions that connect emotionally with passengers.”
She believes this emotional dimension will define the next era of design. “An emotional experience should engage all the senses. It’s also time to differentiate operators again. At the moment, many look very similar, so we need to find new solutions on a higher level – something that has never been thought about before.”
Christiane points to lessons from other sectors. “We can learn a lot from the hospitality industry in shaping brands and putting the passenger even more at the centre. Everyone talks about it, but it’s still missing in practice.”
Rail interiors often reflect cultural identity. How do you balance creating a universal passenger experience with designs that feel authentic to each brand or region?
“For me, a universal passenger experience means inclusion and accessibility – that’s what universal design is meant to achieve,” says Christiane. “But of course, that can and should feel different in different cultures.”
She emphasises the importance of local character. “If Switzerland looks like Germany, and Germany looks like Austria, then something has gone wrong. We need to reflect culture, because it’s part of the operator’s brand identity. By looking more closely at cultural and ethnographic contexts, we can create authentic and even iconic designs that truly belong to each region.”
Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest opportunities for design to elevate the rail journey – from materials and sustainability to the overall passenger experience?
“There are so many things to tackle,” Christiane reflects. “The biggest opportunity is to see train travel as part of a larger story – one step within the whole mobility ecosystem.”
She believes the industry must move beyond isolated thinking. “Right now, we still think in silos. A high-speed train stops at the station, but passengers also travel from home to that station. We need to think across all modes of public mobility, not just rolling stock.”
This interconnected approach, she says, could reshape the future of travel. “It should become one holistic travel experience that includes streets, air, and rail. Different brands and operators, who currently compete with each other, will need to work together under one umbrella. Or one operator might need to open up their business and provide door-to-door mobility solutions. That’s where the true potential lies.”
Christiane Bausback will speak at the Rail Interiors Show in November, sharing insights from across industries and highlighting best practices and opportunities for advancing the passenger experience in rail. Book your free delegate pass today by clicking here.