We’re an open-minded bunch at the Gear and we really wish folks would throw more events like Downshift Sessions’s 10th Anniversary party for Gran Turismo that celebrates the marriage between automotive design, art, gaming and music. Because gadgets aren’t drab little things anymore and we like that added touch of art to go with our gear. I do, at least.
Last week at the Classic Car Club in Manhattan, Staple Design threw their first annual Downshift Session with Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi in attendance. Not very many games can change the landscape of the industry as a whole, but Polyphony Digital was able to do just that with the GT series for Sony’s PlayStation and not just from a gaming standpoint. Musicians would scramble to get their tracks on the latest version and Nissan employed the designers to make the interior of the new Skyline kick as much ass in person as it does in the game, for example.
Artist HAZE was also on-hand to show off his one-of-a-kind hand-painted Lotus Exige that’s up for auction with proceeds to benefit Studio in a School. Kid Sister performed (yeah, I don’t know who that is either). And Jeff Staple himself chronicled the hit game with an array of artwork inspired by each version.
Congrats, Gran Turismo, and we look forward to another decade of your badass series.