The New Noir

THE VOLVO XC60 BLACK EDITION ADDS ITS NAME TO THE LONG HISTORY OF ICONIC BLACK-ON-BLACK DESIGN.

- Asa Canty

What distinguishes a design as iconic, rather than simply in vogue? Expert craftsmanship, understated elegance, materials that age beautifully. Truly iconic designs are those that withstand the test of time, both artistically and physically.

In other words, they become structural achievements unto themselves.

The description applies equally well to design icons from every era. Take the TWA Hotel in New York City, whose singular thin-shell construction still looms as a simultaneous emblem of the past, present, and future of American architecture.

Or, as the latest example, the VOLVO XC60 BLACK EDITION, which, secure upon the Swedish automaker's storied foundation of safety and innovation, asserts itself in a striking Onyx Black that's daringly original without veering into the ostentatious.

Across design mediums, the boldest artists of each generation have found themselves repeatedly drawn to black-on-black palettes as an opportunity to accentuate shapes, shadows, and form. While bright colors can distract from poor design, black-on-black requires a foundational assuredness. But it's not merely a matter of cloaking oneself in darkness and calling it a day; each choice, from the specific shade and finish of black to the materials used, requires careful consideration.