Lexus at Design Miami/ 2019
Lexus has a deep history in the design space, and this year, the company returned to Design Miami/ for the second year as the fair’s official automotive partner. Drawing on Design Miami/’s 2019 theme of Elements: Water, Lexus presented the LC Convertible Concept within an immersive installation entitled SUNSHOWER that evoked the magic of sunshowers while the sun is still shining. The installation also conjured up the Japanese concept of Engawa, or a smooth transition between the inside and outside, blurring its boundary.
From the angle of the windshield to the smooth contours of the rear trunk that houses the convertible roof, every line on the LC Convertible Concept was drawn to evoke an emotional response. A stunning design from every angle, the LC Convertible Concept stood as an aspirational halo vehicle for the Lexus brand.
The Lexus display at Design Miami/ was designed by Tokyo-born and New York City–based designer Nao Tamura, who is known for her multidisciplinary work imbued with subtlety, beauty and emotion.
I was lucky enough to join Lexus as a partner again this year to experience all the festivities surrounding Design Miami, and also to photograph some of the brand’s most iconic cars on the roads of Miami. One of these cars was the Lexus RX, part of an all-hybrid fleet that was customized especially for Design Miami/. This vibrant car definitely got the attention of passers-by everywhere we went.
I also had a chance to tour Wynwood and the Miami Design District to check out the city’s street art scene in a LC 500 Sports Coupe, the Lexus flagship that represents the most passionate expression of the brand’s direction.
