Concrete and Creativity: Peter Arnell’s Top 5 New York City Projects
Growing up in Brooklyn, Peter Arnell was profoundly influenced by the complex urban landscape of New York City. The city’s architectural diversity, cultural energy, and constant transformation became a fundamental source of inspiration for his design work. Arnell’s creative approach reflects a deep engagement with the urban environment, translating the city’s multifaceted character into visual storytelling across various mediums.
1. Donna Karan Brand Development
In 1984, Arnell contributed significantly to developing the brand identity for Donna Karan and DKNY. Approaching the project with a documentary-style methodology, he traversed New York’s streets, capturing images that embodied the urban experience. “I found it in the city itself: in the concrete, steel, and asphalt; in the rush of cars, and the surge of pedestrians,” Arnell reflected, describing his process of translating the city’s essence into a fashion narrative. The iconic DKNY mural featuring his photography of Brooklyn remained on the corner of Broadway and Houston for 20 years.
2. 9/11 Tribute Museum and Fundraising Efforts
Following the September 11 attacks, Peter Arnell engaged with the city’s healing process by designing exhibits for the 9/11 Tribute Museum. The project focused on commemorating rescue workers and preserving the community’s collective memory. In 2001, he designed a charity shirt that raised $2 million for the 9/11 Twin Towers Fund, demonstrating design’s potential as a tool for community support and healing.
3. FDNY Campaigns
Arnell’s work with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the FDNY Foundation over the years has focused on developing safety campaigns and goes all the way back to a fire-safety and minority-recruiting campaign in 2006. These projects have illustrated the intersection of design, public service, and community engagement, addressing critical communication challenges for first responders.
4. Brooklyn Arena
The Brooklyn Arena (now known at the Barclays Center) project showcased Arnell’s approach to urban visual communication. Arnell created the brand and signage, but as Frank Gehry said in a 2021 interview, “he also has invented things.” Arnell created the concept of using LEDs in the floor of the basketball court to animate it. Arnell also helped develop the exterior digital billboard that is integrated into the architecture of the building and can be used for everything from advertising, to community initiatives or art. This is an innovative approach to public advertising, reflecting the city’s evolving media landscape and visual aesthetic.
5. Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Redesign
In 2024, as part of his role with Fontainebleau, Arnell reimagined the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball. He created the animation to include a unique bow-tie design that connected to the 70th anniversary of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and the inaugural opening of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotels. This design explored the relationship between brand identity and cultural symbolism.
Urban Experiences
Peter Arnell’s body of work demonstrates a nuanced approach to design that goes beyond aesthetic creation. His projects reveal how visual communication can interact with urban culture, historical moments, and collective identity. By interpreting New York City’s dynamic landscape, Arnell has explored the ways design can document, commemorate, and reimagine urban experiences.
