03 May 2010

Random Thoughts: Designing the Road Ahead

From the "Things You Can't Do Anything About, But Would Like To" file:

NY State is "re-introducing" a license plate design that was used from the mid 70s to the mid 80s:



Why? Why the American obsession with retro? Why not move ahead, and introduce a contemporary re-design...

...something inspired by the elegant efficiency of the German plates...



...or the futuristic British tags...



...or the timeless, sophisticated, suave Swiss design...




Why reminisce about an era that was by all accounts a low point in NY's history?

It may seem a microscopic speck of a problem compared to the mammoth ones that the U.S. is facing, but sometimes a tiny design tweek can inspire significant attitude re-adjustment....which might not be such a bad idea...