ALEX DE STASIO

Role: Sketching, Prototyping, CAD, Rendering

Timeline: Started project June 2018 // Announced Dec 2018 // Launched Summer 2019

Team: 5 Industrial Designers // 2 Experience Designers

Postmates X and NewDealDesign collaborated to create an animated, lovable delivery robot that would seamlessly integrate into the sidewalk and bring joy to the community. Starting with a sophisticated suspension system equipped to climb curbs, the team developed a form that draws inspiration from shopping carts. The concept went from sketch to working prototype in 6 months.

All decisions were made to enhance the robot's whimsy and personality while maintaining a sense of street-savvy ruggedness. The personality of the robot matches Postmates' loud and bold brand.

The robot expresses itself with 2 headlight-like eyes, an angled touchscreen display, and an animated LED strip on the top edge. The forward-tilted payload gives the robot a sense of motion and purpose, while also granting the dorsal LIDAR unit greater visibility for the road ahead. The rotomolded payload is hugged by the aluminum frame and wrapped with an expressive and swappable vinyl wrap.