Contact: Sarah Haun
Two Twelve Associates
902 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
212 254 6670
shaun@twotwelve.com

LOWER MANHATTAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LAUNCHES IDENTITY DESIGN BY TWO TWELVE

*Branding Reflects Government Organization's Mandate to "Remember Rebuild Renew"*

New York, New York, August 21, 2002—Two Twelve Harakawa (http://www.twotwelve.com), a leading strategic design firm that specializes in signage and wayfinding, digital media, branding and print communications, announces the launch of its identity design for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) that reflects the organization's mandate to help plan and coordinate the rebuilding and revitalization of Manhattan south of Houston Street.

"Since we were driven from our 90 West Street offices on September 11th, we have looked for opportunities like this to contribute to the rebuilding effort through design," said Two Twelve principal and graphic designer Ann Harakawa. "In this case, we were not just logo designers, but as a dislocated business, as New Yorkers and as Americans, we were members of the LMDC's target audience, deeply understanding its sensitivities, concerns and expectations."

LMDC Communications Manager Nancy Poderycki said, "LMDC was created last November to oversee the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site and the creation of an appropriate memorial. Over the past year, individuals from all over the world have come to recognize the corporation's commitment to leading an open and inclusive rebuilding process. We asked Two Twelve to create a design which would reflect this mission and appeal to our many partners in this historic effort. Their solution is bold and distinctive -- we thank Two Twelve for the terrific job."

Visually, the LMDC symbol is open to a number of relevant interpretations:
- as a building or pyramid rising from the ground;
- as an uplifted flag or banner;
- as a map of a city block; or
- as orderly progressions emanating from a starting point out into a broader context.

Interpreted as a banner, the abstract form's dark corner and alternating stripes suggest the United States flag. Interpreted as a building, the form evokes a pyramid, which is recognized internationally as a memorial edifice, and the most enduring structure ever built by mankind.

In the design solution there is both a sense of order, provided by the rectilinear forms, and a sense of action, suggested by the diagonal overlay rising upwards—literally "out of the box." The abstract blue and black symbol is balanced with the traditional LMDC serif letterforms. The mark's three parallel elements echo the "Remember Rebuild Renew" tagline's three alliterative words.

The new logo and applications were created for the LMDC's public forum, "Listening to the City," which was held on July 20, 2002 at the Jacob Javits Center. Over 4,000 New Yorkers attended this "town meeting" to discuss plans for the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and the creation of a permanent memorial to honor the victims of 9/11.

Along with Ms. Harakawa, Two Twelve Associate Brian Sisco leads the team consulting to the LMDC on the design of identity applications including the organization's literature and stationery, newsletters, and other outreach vehicles. The LMDC Web site was redesigned by Two Twelve in collaboration with developers Light & Power Communications of Albany.

ABOUT TWO TWELVE
Two Twelve Associates (http://www.twotwelve.com), including subsidiary Two Twelve Harakawa, is a multidisciplinary design company specializing in the planning and presentation of complex information to diverse audiences. David Gibson founded Two Twelve in 1980, and he and partner Ann Harakawa presently run the firm's New York-based operation. Two Twelve offers a full range of services in print, interactive and environmental graphic design for corporate, institutional and municipal clients nationwide. Important commissions have included the design of the Census 2000 forms and canvassing materials; environmental graphics, bid publications and marketing materials for New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games; signage for Radio City Music Hall and Grand Central Terminal; environmental graphics and wayfinding for the American Airlines Center Arena in Dallas; and a comprehensive signage system for the Seattle area's Sound Transit public transportation system.

ABOUT LMDC
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (http://www.renewnyc.org) was created in the aftermath of September 11th by Governor Pataki and then-Mayor Giuliani to help plan and coordinate the rebuilding and revitalization of Lower Manhattan, defined as everything south of Houston Street. LMDC is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors, which is chaired by John C. Whitehead. LMDC works in cooperation with Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg and with the many city, state and federal agencies to coordinate long-term planning for the World Trade Center site and surrounding communities while pursuing initiatives to make Lower Manhattan a great place to live, work and visit. Our mission is to ensure that Lower Manhattan emerges from this tragedy as a lively, vibrant, wonderful part of the city. Our most important priority is to create in due course a permanent memorial honoring those who were lost while reaffirming the American values that came under attack on September 11th.

The LMDC is committed to an inclusive process that takes into account the needs of the many people affected by this tragedy and the other constituencies that have an interest in the future of Lower Manhattan. To help the LMDC fulfill its mission, we created several Advisory Councils representing various constituencies. The Councils provide input on such issues as transportation and infrastructure, residential and commuter concerns, economic development, tourism and the arts, and the planning of an appropriate memorial.

###