Mijksenaar

My first blog (#1)

2009

When you read this blog, I became sixty-five years old. So consider the start of this blog as a betoken of my non-retirement and the start of a period of reflection and harvest from what I learned so far. But it is my intention also to look for new things as they appear to me when travelling, abroad or just in my own hometown. Sometimes I will share you my excitement, at other times I have to show my sorrowfulness about disappointing experiences in the wonderful world of information design.

I called my blog 'Paul's road blog' since I will focus to my impressions 'on the road'. Occasionally I will add a recommendation for a book, an article, a link or a real site that might interest my readers. My aim is a global audience, so I write my blogs directly in English -or Dunglish if you prefer- and don't bother too much about grammar and spelling to keep it spontaneous and authentic. So please forgive my errors...

This blog's theme: New York

No better place to start a blog than in New York, especially after a recent visit in Spring, this time with my complete family. My visits to New York since 1968 are countless, thanks to our work for JFK airport and the establishment of our office in Manhattan, as part of a joint venture between Arup and Bureau Mijksenaar USA, Inc. It's the only city after my hometown Amsterdam that makes me feel homesick now and then. So hereby some recent observations.

Of course, once again I forgot a typical Apple connector cable, a good excuse to visit one of the three (!) Apple stores. As long Amsterdam doesn't have their own Apple flagship store (and a Muji store), it never can be rated as a major world city. You don't even have to get in line for the cashier, every of the many, many salespersons can check-out your purchases online and have the invoice send to you by email.

Amazing new feature at the New York subways, an almost full dynamic line diagram that replaces the semi-dynamic displays that only showed the passed stops by a single light.  Nevertheless it took me several stops to figure out the various messages: next stop, direction of movement, prior stops, upcoming stops. Amazing too because the MTA (the city operator of the subway) always claims the lack of fundings for severe improvements ('too many stations' is their continuous lamentation) but then I discovered a small screen at the left corner for MTA's advertisers! So now, even key travel information has to be sponsored!

On the way to Ellis Island, the MTA (re)built a new, fresh subway station. At least it is clean and bright.

A visit to Ellis Island as a national museum for immigration, is a must. Access to the ferry became a real nuisance because of the security in 'airport style'.

Once at Ellis Island, the 3D diagrams at the introduction hall, designed by Chermayeff & Geismar are still very convincing.

Recently New York City introduced 'metered parking' (as it is all over in Holland). It didn't improve the traffic signs though.

Obviously inspired by Paris, New York has discovered the bicycle and introduced dedicated bicycle lanes. Nevertheless, cycling is still considered as a sport (wearing a silly helmet and a ballet outfit in candy store colors) than as  substitution for the daily mean of transportation. Except messenger boys but they don't need bicycle routes nor helmets anyway...

Nothing can beat the original mosaic lettering of the New York Subway stations. Notice how carefully the serifs and dot are executed.

This building contractor ('wrecking company') found a way to squeeze a lot of text into a mandatory sign.

Bye, bye New York, until the next season... (from the roof terrace of Elise de Jong in Henry Street, Brooklyn).