WeAreHQ » nyc

Design Crime: NYC’s New Taxi Cab – Death of an icon

freethought — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:08:39 +0000

When I think back to my time spent in NYC, the New York City Taxi Cab always pops up. With countless movie spin-offs, action figures, cartoons, the merchandise list is endless. The Yellow taxi cab, sedan silhouette is synonymous with the Big Apple.

All changed when NYC Mayor, Michael Bloomberg announced the winner of NYC’s taxi-design competition yesterday. The ten year, $1 billion contract to furnish New York with a new iconic taxi design, that’ll define the visual landscape of the NY experience, was awarded to Nissan for the NV200, a minivan. And in the same way we Brits committed design crime with the 2012 Olympic’s logo, this sure ain’t anybody’s idea of a dream car. A real missed opportunity for NYC. If these cars are this irrelevant now, what’ll they be like in five – ten years time? Something like this was a high-profile opportunity to contribute to the ‘brand’ of New York City. Conservative, awkward, straight up poor designs such as this, influence people’s opinion of the performance of the product, the city, and its administration.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The competition was not much better. Nissan beat Ford and Karsan(a Turkish manufacturer), both of which had proposed the same variation on the woeful minivan. Karsan’s was at least eccentric, although not particularly unattractive, had emerged as something of the people’s favourite as the build would be in Brooklyn. Whereas the NV200 will be manufactured in Mexico.

For all its aesthetic atrocities – the NV200 boasts a handful of features: mobile passenger charging station, including a 12-volt electrical outlet and two USB plugs, independently controlled rear air conditioning, and a transparent roof panel for some ‘Gee-whiz’, head-out-the-roof sightseeing. As part of the contract, Nissan will work on a pilot program to study the use of zero-emission, electric vehicles. So even if the van is an assault on your eyes, at least it’ll be gentle on the environment

What do you guys think?

Asobi Seksu – Trails Music Video

Manish — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:24 +0000

New York indie shoegazing band Asobi Seksu debut the video to the lead single Trails off there 4th studio album Fluorescence. The song goes back more to the signature sound that the band is known for but still bringing something new to the mix. The video has a winter feel to it and incorporates some extreme slow motion in parts.

The album is available in stores now on CD, LP, Ltd Edition Pink LP and Digital Download.

Asobi Seksu Album Announced – “Fluorescence”

Manish — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:01:14 +0000

Get ready to get your shoegaze on in 2011. The NYC based indie/shoegazing band, Asobi Seksu, have finally announced the release of there 4th Studio Album titled Fluorescence on Polyvinyl Records which they were working on throughout the summer. Have a listen to one of the tracks below!

Tracklist:

01 – Coming Up
02 – Trails
03 – My Baby
04 – Perfectly Crystal
05 – In My Head
06 – Leave the Drummer Out There
07 – Sighs
08 – Deep Weird Sleep
09 – Counterglow
10 – Ocean
11 – Trance Out
12 – Pink Light

Release Date: 14 February 2011

Asobi Seksu – Trails

Ronnie Fieg X Polo Ralph Lauren Boots

Coach — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:22:06 +0000

Its not often I get excited about a pair of shoes/boots (non sneaker) but these have really got me! Exclusively to a store in the US called David Z, these ranger “cookie” boot are on my wants list before the end of the year! These can be worn smart or casually…

Although I have never heard of Ronnie Fieg before this shoe, I will definitely be looking out for his work from now on…

Enjoy

Tim Burton exibit at MOMA

Coach — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:24:38 +0000

Tim Burton at the MOMA in NYC to commemorate his 27 years of creating genius. He is a pretty interesting illustrator and the exhibit is supposed to be awesome! For those of you who live in New York, or who are visiting in the near future…..do yourselves a favour and check it out! Here are some image highlights to inspire you.

Click on the images in the gallery below…

[nggallery id=19]