BY Joe Marianek

Loud in New York City

A new identity, designed by Open, has been launched for WNYC (93.9 FM, AM 820), the regional provisioner of NPR & PRI news broadcasting and arbiter of exquisitie cultural infotainment. The station is recognized for its nationally syndicated programs hosted by namesakes such as Brian Lehrer and signature shows such as Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen. For non-New Yorkers, live and archived shows can be accessed at wnyc.org.

The new blocky mark is formally staid in contrast to the modular and retro predecessor. A sober weight of Gotham is resilient at small sizes online. Moreover, this tight approach fits in the familiar family of NPR and BBC. At first glance, the call sign is unembellished as four distinct letters…but with a twist. I am inclined to guess that these blocks are a clever attempt at fusing a skyline of buildings with the LDC volume readout of a boom box. Those thick red bars seem more likely to blast Van Halen & Howard Stern rather than Rachmaninov & Leonard Lopate. But who says we shouldn’t rock out to the latter? The re-brand must have been timed to coincide with the station’s anticipated move to an 80,000 sq ft space at a former printing facility in Tribeca fit with its own street-level performance space.

Window graphics of the new facility were designed by Poulin + Morris (Prior to the new identity?)

Welcome to the block party.

A former incarnation from the 80s, by Dan Friedman at Pentagram.

\n\nA new identity, designed by Open, has been launched for WNYC (93.9 FM, AM 820), the regional provisioner of NPR & PRI news broadcasting and arbiter of exquisitie cultural infotainment. The station is recognized for its nationally syndicated programs hosted by namesakes such as Brian Lehrer and signature shows such as Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen. For non-New Yorkers, live and archived shows can be accessed at wnyc.org.

Many thanks to our ADV @ UnderConsideration Partners