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On January 18, 2007, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum hosted a panel discussion as part of Taxi 07, the Design Trust program aiming to reinvent the NYC taxicab and taxi system. This coming spring, Taxi 07 will mount an exhibit at the NY International Auto Show, demonstrating an improved taxi and taxi system. New York's top design minds have been invited to contribute to the exhibit. This
panel discussion, "Transforming an Icon", explored how the designers approach their task of improving a globally recognized icon, the NYC taxi.
To a standing-room only crowd that included design students, members of the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission, accessibility advocates, fellow designers, and the general public, these five top designers showed their innovative taxi designs publicly for the first time, and shed light onto their working process and individual design approach.
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Panelists included: Sigi Moeslinger and Masamichi Udagawa from Antenna Design; Dino Sanchez from Birsel + Seck; Davin Stowell, CEO of Smart Design; Claire Weisz, principal of Weisz + Yoes. Deborah Marton, Executive Director of the Design Trust for Public Space, moderated the discussion. Opening remarks were made by Paul Herzan, Chair of Taxi 07 and Chairman of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
This panel discussion was the first in a series of Taxi 07 events that will heighten public awareness about the importance of the taxicab to the life of New York City. In recognition of the significance of the Taxi 07 program, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has approved a proclamation designating "Taxi Week" from April 6-15, 2007.
Read the press release.
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Participating Design Firms
Antenna Design
Antenna was founded
in 1997 by Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger.
Antenna’s mission is to make the experience
of objects and environments more meaningful and
exciting. Antenna’s diverse output ranges
from public and commercial projects, such as
New York City subway cars, to exploratory environments,
such as Power Flower, an interactive installation
in Bloomingdale’s windows.
Birsel + Seck
Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck design products,
environmental systems, and packaging.
Focused on user-centered design, they practice
an intelligent creativity in close collaboration
with industry leaders, including Herman Miller,
HP, Target, and Renault, among others. Garnering
numerous awards for innovative design, their
work spans offi ce and home interiors, bath, retail,
and automotive sectors.
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Smart Design
Smart Design, an award-winning design firm with offices in New York, San Francisco and Barcelona, has a nearly 30-year history of turning insight and innovation into successful consumer products, communications and brands. Their multi-disciplinary approach ensures design solutions, for notable clients like OXO International and HP.
Weisz + Yoes
Weisz + Yoes is an architectural
firm specializing in design and programming solutions
for challenging sites.
Weisz+Yoes recently received an Honor Award in
the Boston Society of Architects Educational Facilities
K-12 Awards Program in 2005, for The Bronx Charter
School for the Arts.
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