Robbie Napper

Name: Dr Robbie Napper

Title: Senior Lecturer, Department of Design, MADA

Affiliation: Monash University

Robbie Napper is an Industrial Designer, Researcher and Senior Lecturer with the Department of Design at Monash University.

Since joining Monash University in 2007 he has developed expertise in the design and manufacture of vehicles, services, systems and objects for mobility, especially examining themes of modularity, mass customisation, user experience and user-centred design. From 2011-2013 in partnership with Volgren Australia Pty Ltd Robbie led the industrial design development of Australia’s best selling route bus, the Volgren Optimus. Robbie is a standing member of the US National Academy of Science’s Transportation Research Board in Bus Transit Systems and Transit Capacity and Quality of Service. He rides mountain bikes.

PhD. Department of Design, Monash University, 2011.

Grad Cert Higher Ed., Monash University, 2012.

B.Ind.Des. University of Canberra, 2004

Early Career Research Achievement Award, Monash University, 2012

Early Career Research Development Award, Monash University, 2011

Vice Provost Commendation for Teaching, Monash University, 2010, 2011, 2014

Peer reviewer – Australasian Transport Research Forum
Peer Reviewer – Transportation Research Board – US

Sitting Member – Bus Transit Systems Committee of the Transportation Research Board, National Academies of Science, Washington DC, US.

Sitting Member – Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Committee of the Transportation Research Board, National Academies of Science, Washington DC, US.

Associate – Public Transport Research Group, Monash University.

2011-2014
Value: $1.3M
Role: Project Leader, Lead Interior Designer
This project required the research and development of a next-generation
vehicle for Volgren, Australia’s largest bus bodywork manufacturer.

PT Publications

 

Journal Articles

 

Published

 

  1. Napper, R., 2014, Modular route bus design – a method of meeting transport operation and vehicle manufacturing requirements, Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies [P], vol 38C, Pergamon Press, Oxford UK, pp. 56-72.
  2. Coxon, S.C., Napper, R., De Bono, A., 2013, Design strategies for mitigating the impact of anti-social behavior upon suburban rail timetables, Crime Prevention and Community Safety [P], vol 15, issue 3, Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire United Kingdom, pp. 192-206.
  3. Napper, R., 2010, Implementation challenges in mass customisation: route bus design, International Journal of Mass Customisation [P], vol 3, issue 3, Inderscience Enterprises, United Kingdom, pp. 259-272.

 

 

Conference Papers

  1. Coxon, S.C., Sarvi, M., Napper, R., De Bono, A., 2014, An innovative approach to metropolitan train carriage interior configuration; to improve boarding, alighting, dwell time stability and passenger experience., Selected Proceedings – WCTR 2013 Rio, 15 July 2013 to 18 July 2013, WCTRS Secretariat, Lyon France, pp. 1-25.
  2. Napper, R., Elliott, P., 2013, Design of a new route bus for Australia – investigating the value, contradictions and cost implications of vehicle improvements., Australasian Transport Research Forum 2013 Proceedings, 2 October 2013 to 4 October 2013, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 1-15.
  3. Fridman, I., Napper, R., De Bono, A., Kearney, M., 2013, Fuel trends in route buses; the impact on vehicle package design, Australasian Transport Research Forum 2013 Proceedings, 2 October 2013 to 4 October 2013, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 1-14.
  4. Napper, R., 2012, Strategic implementation of design research training: a case study of the studio-based industrial design PhD embedded in the manufacturing sector, agIdeas Research: Design for Business, 21 May 2012 to 25 May 2012, agIdeas Press, Melbourne Vic Australia, pp. 98-107.
  5. Coxon, S., Burns, K., De Bono, A., Napper, R., 2011, An examination of three approaches to metro rolling stock design to ameliorate extended dwell times due to passenger growth and associated crowding, Australasian Transport Research Forum 2011 Proceedings, 28 September 2011 to 30 September 2011, Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC), Adelaide SA Australia, pp. 1-15.
  6. Napper, R., 2011, Minimising variation in transit bus design: Balancing operational and manufacturing needs, TRB Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers, 24 January 2011 to 27 January 2011, Transportation Research Board, Washington DC, USA, pp. 1-14.
  7. Napper, R., De Bono, A., Burns, K., 2010, Reducing variation not function: lessons from applied route bus design research, 2010 ATRF: 33rd Australasian Transport Research Forum, 29 September 2010 to 01 October 2010, Transport and Regional Economics, Bureau of Infrastructure, Canberra, pp. 1-15.
  8. Napper, R., De Bono, A., Burns, K.L., Coxon, S.C., 2009, Bus design guidelines: Complementing planning with vehicle design, ATRF 2009 32nd Australasian Transport Research Forum, 29 September 2009 to 1 October 2009, Australasian Transport Research Forum, Auckland, New Zealand, pp. 1-11.
  9. Coxon, S.C., Burns, K.L., De Bono, A., Napper, R., 2009, The effect of suburban train carriage design upon punctuality, ingress and egress occlusion and passenger comfort, ATRF 2009 32nd Australasian Transport Research Forum, 29 September 2009 to 1 October 2009, Australasian Transport Research Forum, Auckland, New Zealand, pp. 1-11.
  10. Napper, R., Coxon, S.C., Allen, J.L., 2007, Bridging the divide: Design’s role in improving multi-modal transport, ATRF 30th Australasian Transport Research Forum: Managing Transport in a Climate of Change and Uncertainty, 25 September 2007 to 27 September 2007, Department of Infrastructure, Melbourne, Vic, pp. 1-12.
  11. Allen, J.L., Coxon, S.C., Napper, R., 2007, Changing the climate of public transport: A design research initiative, ATRF2007 Forum Papers – 30th Australiasian Transport Research Forum, 25 September 2007 to 27 September 2007, Department of Infrastructure, Melbourne Vic Australia, pp. 1-13.
  12. Coxon, S.C., Napper, R., Allen, J.L., 2007, The role of industrial design in addressing the disparity between user perceptions of public and private transport, ATRF 2007 – 30th Australiasian Transport Research Forum: Managing Transport in a Climate of Change and Uncertainty, 25 September 2007 to 27 September 2007, Department of Infrastructure, Melbourne Vic Australia, pp. 1-19.