Designing the Taxi
A Project of the Design Trust for Public Space
Rethinking New York City's Moveable Public Space
Exhibited at Parsons The New School for DesignNovember 2005 - January 2006 in New York City
Right-click to download the companion book "Designing the Taxi", a 1.8 mb PDF document, or read it online. Designed by Pentagram, the book is full of graphics and insightful articles prepared for the exhibit. A paper copy of the oversize book (an outstanding value at just $5) is available by sending an email to Book Orders at the Design Trust for Public Space. For more information about the Design Trust or the Taxi project, the email contact is info@designtrust.org
Scenes from the exhibit
"A taxi is not a car. It may have four wheels and carry passengers, but the circumstances are completely different."
Photo by Michael DiVito, courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
From November 2005 to January 2006, Parsons The New School for Design in downtown Manhattan hosted the exhibit "Designing the Taxi" which is a project of the Design Trust for Public Space.
Opening night
Matthew Daus of the TLC pointing at the exhibit and talking with Paul Goldberger, Dean of Parsons the New School of Design
Photo by Michael DiVito, courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
Concept taxicab for NYC by Pentagram
Image by Pentagram, courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
Pentagram's New Checker incorporates a folding, rear-facing front passenger seat and an ergonomically designed cockpit to enhance driver comfort, reducing stress and fatigue. Four adults ride comfortably in Pentagram's reconfigured passenger compartment. The cab's see-through skyroof gives visitors a view of New York's soaring skyscrapers.
Image by Pentagram, courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
Design for an improved partition
Photo courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
Traditional-style partitions (above) provide privacy and have reduced homicides in NYC taxis to near-zero levels, but could use a make-over. In June 2005, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission released a Request for Information (RFI), calling for suggestions for materials, designs, and technologies that could be incorporated into new taxicab partitions.
Antenna Design's glass partition (below) is combined with a sleek console that includes a swipe card system, GPS panel, and microphone.
Image by Antenna Design New York Inc, courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
Concept taxicab by Hybrid Product Design + Development
Image by Hybrid Product Design + Development, courtesy of the Design Trust for Public Space
This eye-catching taxi is designed for one- and-two passenger trips, which make up more than 90% of taxi rides in Manhattan. The driver has a roof-to-floor windshield (the front is to the left in this photo) and the roof is clear to allow visitors a view of the city's skyscrapers. Hybrid's MiniModal is wheelchair accessible with sliding doors, a curbside ramp and a rear safety light to indicate boarding and exiting.
Right-click to download the companion book "Designing the Taxi", a 1.8 mb PDF document, or read it online. Designed by Pentagram, the book is full of graphics and insightful articles prepared for the exhibit.
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