Not your typical “map” but the game Mini Metro recently released a 1972 Vignelli-inspired map of New York. (Early Paris and London too.) I love it. What are your thoughts? Transit Maps says: This update to the game has been around for a while, but I haven’t had the time to sit down and play seriously enough unlock the new “retro transit” levels. I got 999 once trying to unlock the old London map (you need […]
A small inset diagram from a 1993 tourist map of Tokyo, showing the myriad transportation options between Tokyo and its airports. Nicely simplified, and also gives prices, as well as approximate travel times to Narita (then still officially known as “New Tokyo International Airport”). The distinctive shape made by the Yamanote and Chuo lines (a device also seen in this wonderful 1984 diagram by Richard Saul Wurman) forms the backbone of the diagram. Source: David Rumsey […]
Submitted by zjfishy, who says: After my frustration with the new Metro and AMT maps for Montreal, I decided to make my own including both. I took some of the key features from the Metro map (like the dark background and chunky lines), but put a more modern and cleaner twist on it. Room for edits once the REM and Blue line extension open, as well as the possible Magenta line, were considered and made for […]
Submitted by Eduardo, who says: This is my redesign of the Porto map for my University course. Your review of the real one helped me! Transit Maps says: This is a nice reworking of the official map, Eduardo – converting it from a stylised geographical map into a proper schematic diagram (the official map hasn’t changed too much since I reviewed it way back in 2012). I will quietly note that you’ve lifted the typography, […]
Submitted by Laura, who says: I have a love-hate relationship with Santiago’s Metro map. The current one excludes very useful information (particularly important for migrants and tourists) such as the existence of private buses to the Airport, or the commuter rail service to Nos (run by another company) that’s been working for more than a year now. It works just as well as the Metro using the same card and price, but for some reason […]
Submitted by Chris, who says: This is my version of the tramway and metro network of Marseille, France. It is one of my recent maps and I have tried to give it a 80s look but I am not sure I got it right. Overall, it’s not necessarily a map for daily use but more an interpretation of the system. Transit Maps says: For a relatively simple network like Marseille’s (with just two Metro lines […]
Readers of Transit Maps will know that I recently featured some awesome concept artwork by Massimo Vignelli for the Washington DC Metro map that was created as part of an unsuccessful bid for the map’s contract in the early 1970s. (See the posts here and here). Interestingly, the Vignelli Archives – the source of the material – made a great deal about these being “new” discoveries, unearthed for the first time in nearly 40 years. […]
vignellicenter: Yesterday we shared some newly uncovered Vignelli designs for the Washington DC Metro subway system. And you were so excited about that we couldn’t resist sharing a few more related items. Although Massimo Vignelli, while at Unimark International, designed the signage for the Washington DC Metro subway in 1968, he didn’t design the map (which was designed by Lance Wyman). But we recently uncovered a variety of ideas mocked up on these presentation boards. […]
vignellicenter: Found in the archives! Unrealized DC Metro map designs. Although Massimo Vignelli, while at Unimark International, designed the signage for the Washington DC Metro subway in 1968, he didn’t design the map (which was designed by Lance Wyman). But we recently uncovered a variety of ideas mocked up on these presentation boards. We also found some original sketches for the signage! Stay tuned! It’s well known that the signage and wayfinding system for the DC […]
Submitted by Julian, who says: I was compelled to redesign my town’s transit map after reading a comment on LA’s map during the World Cup that said a detracting feature was that it looked “empty.” I try to solve this problem by both bringing more balance to the arrangement of the lines and giving a sense of geographical context with regional borders. I tilted north 45 degrees to create the pleasing visual effect of the […]
