Top Designs from Parsons the New School for Design Class of 2012

Saks Fifth Avenue is showcasing the designs of the top of the Class of 2012 from Parsons the New School for Design in its flagship store windows in midtown Manhattan. The new designers show their fresh points of view, interesting use of fabric and impeccable construction.

Parsons Festival's "SoundAffects" - Transforming City Noise Into Calming Sound and Visual Display

Installation after dark showing color visual display

Part of the first ever Parsons Festival is a temporary, interactive installation called SoundAffects in which the sounds of the streets are transformed into repetitive, calming melodies, and color visual display. The project is a collaboration between Parsons The New School for Design, mono and Tellart to translate real-time city noise (traffic, weather, birds, pedestrians, etc.) into sounds and visualizations. Passersby can listen to the music in person by plugging into the wall (pictured above) on-site at 5th Avenue and 13th Street. The music and visuals are also available at their website. A sensor input picks up sound signals all around the wall, filters all of that through a fancy algorithm that assigns each input a color and a sound, and then pops out music and visuals. The installation is running through May 22. 

Parsons Festival is being held from May 13–22. The city block that is home to Parsons The New School for Design—Fifth Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets—has been a place for exploring the design of everyday urban life like "SoundAffects". There are about 200 public events that are taking place across the campus.

Parsons Festival: "Take A Seat"

Sheila C. Johnson Design Center 

One of many ongoing events during the PARSONS FESTIVAL is an exhibit of seating protoypes called "Take A Seat." The seating protoypes are created by sophomore product design students of the School of Constructed Environments. The designs incorporate plywood components and a structural frame. The display shows the outcome of a 10-week design build up project exploring the intersection between ergonomics, sound construction techniques and finish. The exhibit is open to the public through May 23 at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center Lobby located at 2 West 13th Street.

Parsons Festival is a two week festival presented by the Parsons The New School for Design featuring thesis exhibitions and critiques, thought-provoking public programs, interactive installations, gallery openings, workshops and special events.

Parsons The New School For Design - The David M. Schwatrz Fashion Education Center

Parsons The New School For Design is New York's leading art and design educational institution. Founded in 1896, Parsons has produced outstanding artists, designers and businesspeople including Norman Rockwell, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Tom Ford. Parsons campus is spread throughout the city. Pictured above is part of the facade of the David M. Schwartz Fashion Education Center of Parsons. This is where all fashion studio courses are taught. It is located in the heart of Manhattan's Garment District at 560 7th Avenue (or Fashion Avenue).