Hasta La Ideas

At 11.57pm each night this month, all the screens in New York’s Times Square simultaneously display a short film by graphic designer Andrew Sloat, creator of the latest Midnight Moment

The Midnight Moment project co-ordinates all the sign operators in Times Square “to display synchronized, cutting-edge creative content on electronic billboards and newspaper kiosks throughout Times Square every night”. The programme is run by the Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) and Times Square Arts and is the successor to Times Square Moment: A Digital Gallery which began in May 2012 (more here).

For October’s Midnight Moment, the New York chapter of the  AIGA invited a select group of New York designers to submit videos. According to AIGA, Sloat’s video 1st Amendment (excerpts), shown above, “was ultimately chosen for its content, approach and distinctive execution”. Sloat’s film spells out excerpts from the US Constitutional First Amendment, reminding visitors of “Times Square’s strong identity as the nation’s ‘town square’,” AIGA say.

Sloat’s film in action. Photo: Ka-Man Tse for @TSqArts

“A place like Times Square exists because the rights of free speech and assembly are broadly defined and protected in America. Yet in an urban environment, these freedoms are also constantly negotiated. This twelve-channel video celebrates the simple words that make this globally-famous place possible,” Sloat said in a statement about the film which will play every night throughout October from 11:57pm to midnight.

The other films submitted for the competition can be seen on the AIGA/NY Vimeo page here.

Our favourites are:

2×4‘s mind-bending Eye Test

Keira Alexandra‘s love letter to the city, New York, I Love You

Billy Likes to Dance by Dress Code

And Open‘s People Service Announcements