Photos: Union Square Travel Agency
Dispensaries could interpret a “travel” theme in a number of different ways. A psychedelic celebration of trippiness could be fun. A jumble of hot air balloons and electric railroad tracks seems literal enough. But these ideas don’t convey the glorious potential of new places, nor that delicious spark of a new adventure. Travel isn’t exactly tourism. At its best, travel is a journey; an experience.
New York City’s Union Square Travel Agency (USQTA) interprets the anticipation with a sweep of softened edges, indirect lighting, and a white-on-white palette that encourages exploration. The design evokes the majesty of flying in an age before security measures leeched airports of their magic. Bits of humor pop up in unexpected places.
Advertisement This flip-letter sign near the cashier’s lane is modeled on the TWA flight update board. Frequent connections include “NYC — LOL” and “NYC — NBD.”
Information hubs modeled after airport self-check-in kiosks are clustered in the middle of the space, and vitrines filled with products, resembling the windows of an airplane, line one wall. The small terpene room feels like an airline lounge, and slow washes of color behind the cashier counter suggest a changing sky. That