Traffic lights are viewed with a lot of suspicion, not merely because they always seem to turn red just as you reach the lights and with even more frequency if you are in a hurry to get someplace. They also seem to have undergone a drastic transformation, much like a weight loss, in changing their appearance from the traditional round face to a square face.

According to the Art Lebedev team who are responsible for bringing about this change in cities around the world, traffic lights were earlier made in circular only to distribute the light from the bulb within onto the glass equally. However, with the use of hi-tech light diodes, traffic lights need not be shaped in the same old boring way no more and cities can start showing their individuality by opting to put up traffic lights in the shape of their choice. And yet, the Art Lebedev team insists that the best shape for traffic lights to take would be square, since this gives the optimum chances of being viewed and for the light to be discriminated correctly. The concept, called Luxofor, is already changing the face of streets in New York, Moscow and Tokyo.

The team hopes to work with local authorities, not just to improve the facet of traffic lights, but also to add other sections to the lights that would help provide useful directions to drivers and pedestrians.

Via: DesignLaunches