All posts filed under: Miscellany

Submission – “Transit Map” Elevator Service Diagram, Tokyo, Japan

June 18, 2016
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Submitted by Adam, who says: The “transit”-style elevator map of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The tower consists of two sub-towers, with elevator “lines” ABC serving one tower, and DEFG serving the other. Apologies for the poor quality of the photo–I took this offhandedly without thinking of submitting it.  Transit Maps says: This is totally awesome, Adam! Elevators that only service certain ranges of floors in large office buildings aren’t that unusual, but I’ve never […]

Video: New “Johnston100″ Typeface Family by Monotype

June 14, 2016
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For Johnston Sans’ 100th birthday, TfL has commissioned Monotype to redraw the typeface, bringing the design back closer to its original roots in many respects. Going forward, it will be this cut that will be used on all new TfL signage, maps and collateral. The redraw also introduces two new weights – Thin and Hairline – that I remain unconvinced by. I suspect they’ve been added for online usage and advertising purposes, but they just […]

Bus Map Client From Hell

May 27, 2016
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Via: clientsfromhell: I designed a bus route map with specific routes highlighted in various colours. Client: Hmm, how about we make the route with the pink line more wiggly? Me: I guess, but it represents a route with fixed stops. The roads are fairly straight. Client: The road is straight, sure, but I want the route to be more wiggly. Thanks. I have no words. Isn’t the whole idea to make the route look as direct and convenient […]

Submission – IKEA Store “Transit” Strip Map

May 15, 2016
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From an anonymous submitter, who says: IKEA now produces these store maps – not exactly a transit map, but quite a lot like an in-car line map so I though it was worth suggesting. Sorry about the torn-off bits – I have a pet rabbit! I’d say it certainly makes navigating an IKEA a bit easier and it does emphasise the one-way nature that you’re supposed to go round, but I can’t help thinking it […]

On That “Most Complex Subway Map” Article

March 1, 2016
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Thanks to everyone (and I do mean everyone!) who has sent the recent “The World’s Most Complex Subway Maps as Determined by Scientists!” article to me – from various sources, including this take from CityLab.  However, when I read the full academic paper that all these articles are based on, I think that everyone’s got the wrong end of the stick. The study is not of map complexity at all, but of network complexity.  The methodology outlined […]

Video: A Tube Map Made of Chocolates!

December 15, 2015
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Ah, the Quality Street box of chocolates and toffees – a perennial Christmas gift from grandparents throughout the UK, Australia and elsewhere. Their brightly coloured wrappers lend themselves well to this little project: a recreation of the London Tube map made from individual chocolates laid end to end.  Yes, it’s all a silly bit of festive fun, but there is actually some insight into the current state of the map when they’re laying out the […]

Video: “Stations – A Quick Scan Through NYC” by Snowday

December 9, 2015
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Just a couple of glimpses of the subway map at the beginning, but I still love this short video featuring the stations of the New York Subway and the people who pass through it every day. Having just returned from a trip to the Big Apple, I wish I had the ability to capture the lifeblood of the city as well as this. Source: Snowday/Vimeo