Two Twelve
Associates
902 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
212 254 6670
shaun@twotwelve.com
TWO
TWELVE ASSOCIATES HELPS AUDIENCES FIND THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN NYC RIVER-TO-RIVER
FESTIVAL DESIGN
FIRM DISPLACED
ON 9/11 CREATES EVENT & INFORMATION GRAPHICS FOR THE LARGEST FREE ARTS
FESTIVAL IN NYC HISTORY
New York, NY, 25 June 2002 -- Two Twelve Associates (http://www.twotwelve.com), a leading strategic design firm that specializes in signage and wayfinding, digital media, branding and print communications, announces the installation of the Downtown NYC River to River Festival 2002 event graphics.
As design consultants to the Downtown River to River Festival, Two Twelve has created street signs, logo, Web site (http://www.RivertoRiverNYC.org), advertising and other collateral for Lower Manhattan's 500-event, summer-long arts celebration of New York's most historic square mile.
This downtown project has a poignant significance for Two Twelve, because the design firm's penthouse offices at 90 West Street were completely destroyed in the September 11th attacks.
"It's wonderful to have the opportunity to use our professional skills to contribute to the downtown rebuilding effort," says David Gibson, principal of Two Twelve, "As former downtown neighbors and die-hard New Yorkers, we feel a strong sense of unity with organizations and sponsors who are helping to make this festival happen."
The graphics program designed by Two Twelve for the Downtown River to River festival reflects the diversity of both the festival events and the participants in this major group effort. A set of playful illustrated symbols are used both alone and in conjunction with photographic images of the downtown streetscape. The festival logo in water-blue and park-green visually balances the collection of sponsor logos that needed to be incorporated into the design as well.
"The idea was to bring some upbeat energy back to the downtown streetscape visually," says Two Twelve design associate Colleen Hall, "And, of course, to provide the public with the information that's needed to get them to the shows."
Two Twelve has done previous work in lower Manhattan as design consultants to the South Street Seaport on identification and wayfinding signage for the historic district and pier area, and to the Downtown Alliance on the graphic identity and marketing collateral for t/bexª, the Technology/Business Exchange (formerly known as the Information Technology District).
The banners, advertising, wayfinding signs and other materials featuring the graphics will be visible now through September 2002 when the festival ends. The collaborating advertising agency of record is Bouchez Kent & Company. The illustrations were created by Steve Parsons and the photographs by Jake Wyman.
Two Twelve Associates (http://www.twotwelve.com) 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 his partner Ann Harakawa presently run the firm's New York-based operation, including its subsidiary Two Twelve Harakawa. 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 in New York City.
The Downtown NYC River to River Festival 2002 (http://www.RivertoRiverNYC.org) is the largest free arts festival in NYC history. Running from May through September of this year, it was created to celebrate the resilience of Lower Manhattan. The area's corporations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, performing and visual arts groups, museums and historic sites are uniting to celebrate the birthplace of this city, the rebirth of America's most historic square mile and the cultural dynamics and diversity that are the very fabric of this city's greatness. Presenting partners are the Alliance for Downtown New York, Battery Park City Authority, Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, South Street Seaport Market Place, and World Financial Center Arts & Events Program.
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