This is a Totally Legit project, see https://totallylegitllc.com/thataway/.

Aside from playing the role of Creative Director, my focus was on designing and fabricating the arrow itself.  Andrew Cole took a lead role on the animation of the arrow, and Greg Larson took a lead role on maintaining the bus.

More about the Vehicle’s Mutation
We took an old 1984 Carpenter metro bus and modified it by adding a platform and railing on top, external stairs on the side, and a drive train that allows us to drive it from the top (only up to 10 mph) to optimize the driver’s visibility over the playa.  For the Thataway Bus, the shell of the vehicle was transformed into the shape of a giant arrow, showing the way. The arrow was made out of red shade cloth and metal poles. The lighting is animated LEDs around the edge of the arrow.

Mutant Vehicle Intent
The “Thataway” project is simple yet stunning image in design — we converted a 30 foot metro bus into a giant neon arrow, with the goal of pointing the way in random directions for people meandering across the playa or taking a ride with us. As a large vehicle that drives between the more iconic projects on the playa, we literally point the way, while also deliberately misdirecting people in random directions, because that is what Burning Man is all about, random experiences that occur through opportunistic meandering. We imagined as people are going in one direction, they will see our giant arrow, and say, ok, let’s suddenly change direction and go left now.

As a crew, we try to reinforce the notion it’s not about getting anywhere in a hurry, but rather about having a good time wherever you are, and whoever you are with at that moment. We seek to increase serendipitous connections and have found over the years that our mutant vehicle projects have provided a central, orienting experience to many people as they jump on and meet the same new friends over the span of several nights.