Izzo Here: I was curious what other people thought of this story. I personally think it's pretty foolish. How do bright advertisements and digital displays equate to good design and safety, and eventually economic dollars? What happens when 5 years from now this type of digital technology and flat screens are passe? Is the design still good? Will retailers want their ads on the Daktronic board? Do we need to be consumed by television and advertisements at every turn? How is this any different than what The Gallery already has? Do the flat screens over the fireplaces at the new George Washington house add to the experience? The fact that these signs are just larger, newer, and animated doesn't necessarily make them better. I'd also like to see instances in the city where boutique stores thrive on the second or third floors in this city. I could be totally wrong on this. I'd like to see the counterpoint.
...i can't bring myself to defend that image/idea, but it might be a case of "well it's better than what's there now" thinking (which is not a good way to go about design). it looks like another attempt to get things kick-started on the east side of Broad Street, and this seems like a flashy beginning. the blocks over here are lacking just about everything that you see west of Broad, so it seems as though the developer is trying to offer something different to lure shoppers. they should start by cleaning up and improving the streetscape, simply, for the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI agree, cleaning up and offering more pedestrian friendly amenities/streetscape, would be a better start. But I can't imagine the same stores there being better if they had bigger brighter signs. It'd still be the cash for gold place and the stolen stereo store. just with bigger flatscreens above the windows.
ReplyDeleteWhile there some valid points against this type of embellishment (note I didn’t say design) I believe the digital display system is impending and may soon become ubiquitous. Embracing the technology in a more creative way may offer better results vs. resisting it. Did you guys see the digital cube at the Kimmel Center?
ReplyDeleteI think the digital cube at the Kimmel Center works because it isn't the focal point. It's small,unassuming and more of an art installation than a billboard. If you take it away, nothing is really lost. If you take away these signs in this particular rendering it's not much better than the Gallery to me. Its a glass version. I appreciate a simple box as much as the next guy but I'd honestly probably like this proposal better just as a glass box.
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