Therefore plotting Rider’s course

Product design consultancy Therefore has designed a motorcycle-mounted satellite navigation unit for personal navigation company TomTom.

The TomTom Rider model will be available from this summer and has been a year in development at Therefore, according to consultancy creative director Patrick Hunt. The group previously worked with TomTom on the design of its in-car satellite navigation device Go.

‘In designing the in-car version we started to create a brand look and feel, with a soft, friendly form and so the company came to us for this development,’ explains Hunt.

The key challenge was to ensure that both the display unit and its dock were waterproof, adds Hunt. ‘The dock can connect to the bike’s battery, so the key thing is to keep it sealed.’

Rider is the first motorcycle navigation product from TomTom and features integrated Bluetooth technology. When a destination is programmed into the computer, Rider delivers audio instructions to the rider via a headset, which can also link up with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.