Transport Design Consultancy has designed Dubai’s version of the Oyster travel card.
The Nol card will be the Gulf region’s first-ever stored-value travel card, and will enable passengers to use all modes of public transport in Dubai, including Metro, marine and bus services.
Transport Design Consultancy started working on the cards, for client Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, around a year ago, according to principal Tony Howard. The consultancy had previously worked on the signage and graphics system for the Dubai Metro, for the same client.
There are four types of cards – silver, blue, gold and red (pictured) – offering different services such as premier-class travel and personalised photocards.
Howard says, ‘The client gave us the colours and the name [which comes from the Arabic equivalent of ‘tariff’], so we needed to develop an identity. It had a logo for the controlling body which has a slightly curved shape, so we developed it. It’s a continuous or infinity wave that implies that the card would seamlessly transfer you from one mode of transport to another.’
The Nol logo is based on the Transport Dubai dual-language font designed by Dalton Maag, which is also used on signage and graphics throughout the Metro system.
The cards will go into use when the Metro opens on 9 September, and Transport Design Consultancy is working on information posters and promotional material prior to the launch.
