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This Industry Spotlight is a two part series featuring LA-Tech, BMW Designworks, and SMC IxD students. Stay tuned next month for the second part. ✨

Designing Mobility Hubs for a Connected Los Angeles

This summer, LA-Tech partnered with BMW Designworks to host a six-week internship that brought together 13 emerging designers from across Los Angeles, including students and graduates of Santa Monica College’s Interaction Design Program. The BMW Designworks x LA-Tech Rising Internship invited participants to reimagine Los Angeles as a network of future-focused mobility hubs, spaces that merge innovation, design, and community impact.

Over the course of the program, interns stepped into the roles of designers, researchers, and strategists, exploring how sustainable, intelligent systems could transform the city’s infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Guided by mentors and industry experts, they blended AI-driven insights with human-centered design, tackling real-world challenges in transportation, architecture, and urban life through studio sessions and roundtable discussions.

Working in teams, participants focused on key regions such as Downtown LA, Inglewood, the Sepulveda Basin, and Westwood, developing concepts from research to prototype. The internship concluded with a Demo Day at Designworks LA, where each group presented their ideas and was recognized for their creativity and commitment to shaping the future of mobility in Los Angeles.

The Sepulveda Basin: Mobility through Ecology 

Team 1: The Sepulveda Basin: Aino Halonen, Danielle Perez, Erick Olivares, Harmony Simpson

A 2,000-acre expanse in the San Fernando Valley, the Sepulveda Basin faces challenges of fragmentation, heat, and poor accessibility. Team 1 reframes it as an adaptive ecological system that integrates shade, movement, and sustainability. Their solution introduces a biomimetic canopy system with structures that contract under heat to create shade and relax for airflow. This system works in tandem with solar trams and immersive AR wayfinding murals to connect movement, comfort, and discovery across the park. Together, these elements transform the Basin into a multimodal park designed for both local use and global visitors in 2028.

The Vertical Village: Repurposing the “Graffiti Towers”

Team 2:  Grace Rothbart, Alexander (Alex) Valerio, Juliamarie (Julie) Gutierrez

In Downtown LA, Team 2 tackles the abandoned Oceanwide Plaza, known as the “Graffiti Towers,” transforming it into a multimodal mobility hub and cultural landmark. Their proposal combines transit access, coworking spaces, and affordable lodging while preserving the site’s street art identity. By repurposing existing infrastructure, the design maximizes sustainability and reactivates the local economy. The “Vertical Village” celebrates LA’s creativity while offering safe, inclusive spaces for travelers and residents alike.

Heart of Westwood: A People-Centered Transit Experience

Team 3: Arthur Jensen, Audreen Fune, Austin Gregory

Team 3 focuses on UCLA’s bustling district, anticipating Olympic crowds and everyday congestion. Their proposal, the Heart of Westwood, reimagines a campus parking structure as a vibrant mobility hub connected to the new Metro D-Line. Featuring AI-powered multilingual kiosks, a pedestrian-friendly tunnel, and shaded terraces with cafés and study spaces, the hub makes public transit feel intuitive, social, and comfortable, transforming commuting into a community experience.

Connect Inglewood: Linking Local Life and Stadium Culture

Team 4: Riley Cunanan, Olivia Lee, Sasha Leslie

Inglewood’s new stadiums have boosted tourism but strained local infrastructure. Team 4’s Connect Inglewood plan introduces a network of microhubs linking the venues with nearby small businesses on Market Street. Enhanced pedestrian routes, greenery, and micromobility rentals encourage visitors to explore the neighborhood while supporting the local economy. The result is a transit system that serves residents first while creating lasting benefits beyond major events.

In our next story, we explore how LA-Tech’s partnerships with companies like BMW Designworks continue to empower emerging designers and redefine the creative landscape of Los Angeles.

Our very special thanks to everyone at LA-Tech, BMW Designworks, and SMC IxD students for taking the time to answer our questions. Stay tuned for part 2 of this Industry Spotlight!

With our Industry Spotlight, we want to share the amazing things our community is doing — from career wins to personal passions. It’s a chance to tell unique stories, get inspired, gain valuable advice, and keep our community connected.

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