IDCNY History [front view]

Brochure for IDCNY (International Design Center New York) describing the history of the location, Long Island City, and the buildings, American Chicle, Eveready Batteries, and Sunshine Buscuit, which were restored and adapted for IDCNY.

IDCNY opened in 1985 in renovated factory buildings in Long Island City with space for showrooms and other services for the interior design and wholesale furnishings industry. Vignelli Associates designed all the graphics and signage for IDCNY.

Text: In the 17th century, Long Island City was a farming area known as Newtown, later as Hunter’s Point. With the opening of the 34th Street Ferry, it became a prosperous community. One sign of that elegant life-style is to be found a few blocks from International Design Center, in the gaslit Hunter's Point Historic District–ten homes built for well-to-do families in the early 1870’s. These buildings are perhaps the best preserve examples of the high-steeped Italinate style known as brownstones.

The industrial development of the area began with the opening of the Queensborough Bridge. Here were factories for Ford, Pierce-Arrow and Rolls Royce; a well as substantial manufacturing facilities for American Chicle, Eveready Batteries, and Sunshine Biscuit.

Today, these three last-mentioned structures, restored and adapted to the need of the interior furnishings industry, provide the first two million square feet of space for International Design center.

Text from design:Vignelli exhibition label:
IDCNY, Graphic Identity Program, 1983-1989.
IDCNY is the International Design Center of New York, an international furniture merchandise mart in Long Island City, New York. The logo portrays elegance and strength through the choice of two contrasting typefaces. The program includes, graphics, invitations, publications, advertising, and signage. Based on three very basic elements - Bodoni type with black and red colors - the program is nevertheless extremely articulated and vibrant, and has achieved a very strong identity quite often imitated by similar organizations. Most of the pieces are designed by Michael Bierut and coordinated by Fern Mallis.