On November 30 at Design Miami/, fair partner Lexus will debut a special installation exploring the luxury automobile maker’s commitment to a carbon-neutral future. Titled On/, suggestive of an on/off switch, Lexus invited the University of Miami and Assistant Professor of the School of Architecture, Germane Barnes, to conceive an experience that looks to the Lexus LF-Z Electrified Concept car—an innovative model marking a new era of electric design for the brand.
“On/” by Germane Barnes and the University of Miami, inspired by Lexus for Design Miami 2021, photo by Steve Benisty.
“We’re thrilled to bring this incredible project from Germane Barnes and the University of Miami to Design Miami/ in our fourth year of partnership with the fair,” said Brian Bolain, Lexus’s global head of marketing. “As we look towards next generation design, this project has given us a chance to highlight Lexus’ commitment to electrification while working closely with the students at UMiami who are incredibly talented and truly represent the future of design and innovation.”
Accessible both in-person at Design Miami/ and through a virtual portal online, On/ takes the form of a realistically scaled model of the LF-Z Electrified Concept car. Suspended above the ground with cables, the sculptural automobile has been imagined in steel and outfitted with a show of LED lighting. Keeping in mind the possibilities of the future, Barnes and students at the university also outfitted the installation space with a series of LED-embedded furniture (in line with the brand’s commitment to hospitality) and a unifying lighting scheme.
“On/” by Germane Barnes and the University of Miami, inspired by Lexus for Design Miami 2021, photo by Steve Benisty.
“Designing for a future that is collaborative, sustainable, equitable, and prioritizes the unique experiences of individuals is both a driving force of my practice and my work with students here at the University of Miami,” said Barnes. “As Design Miami/ opens, we’re excited to see how the public engages with the installation, both in-person and online, and makes our vision for the future their own.”
Complete with an interactive design component and showroom of user-generated designs, you’ll find the full virtual experience available at the link HERE.
Still from the Lexus interactive video, “On/,” created by Germane Barnes and the University of Miami, courtesy of Lexus.
“On/” by Germane Barnes and the University of Miami, inspired by Lexus for Design Miami 2021, photo by Steve Benisty.
