The transit map showed both new york and new jersey. Italian design legend massimo vignelli, best known for designing an iconicyetcontroversial version of the new york city subway map in the 1970s, died in his new york city home tuesday morning at. Besides showing the new york city subway, the map also includes the mtas metronorth railroad and long island rail road, new jersey transit lines, and amtrak lines, all in the consistent visual language of the vignelli map. Massimo vignelli, the designer, celebrates his 80th the. Vignelli simplified new yorks complex subway system into a clean graphical diagram, using bold bands of color that turned at 45 and 90degree angles. A redesign of the subway map, from one of its designers. Jan 08, 2020 a portion of the old subway diagram features in mark ovendens book transit maps of the world, published by penguin, october 30, 2007. Asset 9 new york s subway map like youve never seen it before. The city has changed drastically over the past 40 years, yet the m. The project is by rosy saliba kehdi and hollie fraser. Vignelli regarded the map as one of his finest creations.
Dec 02, 2019 the city has changed drastically over the past 40 years, yet the m. Please note that, except solely for your own personal and noncommercial use, no part of these maps may be copied or used without the prior written permission of the metropolitan transportation authority. Mta new york city transit bergen street sign shop, new york, ny. Download your free new york guidebook official new york. The designer is a recognisable figure in bright illustrations by emiliano ponzi, depicted as an overcoated man with swirling lines of colour around his head described as the snakes that had to be tamed inside the rectangle of a map. The map of the new york city subway system was designed in 1972 by massimo vignelli. Massimo vignellis 1972 new york city subway map is well remembered both.
Peter lloyd uncovers the history of the vignelli map that includes the legacy of the people who created and promoted this new york iconas well as those who hastened its. The suggested walks take in all the major landmarks, galleries, shops and sites but also hundreds of lesserknown at least to us londoners places of interest. The great new york subway map hardcover the elliott. I asked a subway worker at the information desk and she was the single most rudest and unhelpful person ive ever met in my life, but actual civilians in new york were super helpful and kind. Mar 12, 20 mapmaker john tauranac talks about designing subway maps, especially the 1979 mta map of the new york city subway, which superseded massimo vignellis wellknown map of 1972. Lines running local, then express and then local again is a. Depictions of trains, subway stations and the nyc skyline tell the story of how graphic designer massimo vignelli created a new subway map in 1972. A new map of the new york city subway system designed by john tauranac, who designed the map currently in use, shows lines that do not yet exist, like the second avenue line. January 10, 1931 may 27, 2014 was an italian designer who worked in a number of areas ranging from package. Guide map to the architecture, art and design of the new york subway.
Our books are mainly in the areas of arc design books new york united states bookstore specializing in architecture, art, asian art, illustrated books, modern design, photography, scholarly works on many subjects. The lost nyc subway map that may vastly improve modern ones. The great new york subway map, written and illustrated by emiliano ponzi. The italianborn vignelli also worked on the original branding for american airlines. And so, in 1977 the mta set up a team led by john tauranac, assisted by the design firm michael hertz associates, to draw up a new subway map. If you are here looking at my diagram, youll probably want to be looking at his book too. A lost design for a nyc subway map, rediscovered citylab. Massimo vignelli, an acclaimed graphic designer who gave shape to his spare, modernist vision in book covers and shopping bags, furniture and corporate logos, even a. On the new york public librarys blog, cynthia chaldekas of the midmanhattan library wrote an article about the subway s history, john tauranac talks new york city subway map history, recounting a talk given by map designer john tauranac in april 2010 at the nypl. It takes into account new information and is supplemented by comprehensive notes, a bibliography and a chronology of the new york city subway system. Vignelli transit maps describes the history of the new york subway maps and follows this citys transportation. Every day, we and a bunch of book ninjas go out and leave some of our favorite books on the new york subway.
In august 1972, vignellis design for the new york city subway map appeared on the walls of subway stations and became a landmark in modernist information design. I only got lost on the subway once with it because we couldnt figure out if we wanted the uptown or downtown train. The book doesnt mention this, but just about all subway maps around the world now imitate the style this design group came up with. Massimo vignellis nyc subway map is reborn design agenda. Mapmaker john tauranac talks about designing subway maps, especially the 1979 mta map of the new york city subway, which superseded massimo vignellis wellknown map of 1972.
Detail from massimo vignellis 1972 new york subway map anyone with a penchant for map design was at the transit museum in brooklyn last night where the italian designer massimo vignelli and critic michael beirut discussed vignellis famous and controversial new york city subway diagram, designed in 1972 and used on the transport system until 1979. But vignelli helped to transform new york city into a colorful, easily. This limited edition book is an expanded, annotated and profusely illustrated version of the acclaimed essay originally written for aiga voice. Architectural designs for new yorks first subway framberger.
The great new york subway map, written and illustrated by emiliano ponzi and published by the museum of modern art, in association with the new york transit museum, tells the fascinating story of the maps creation in 1972 by the great italian designer massimo vignelli and his team, and introduces young readers to the idea of graphic design. When designer massimo vignellis redesigned new york city subway map appeared in 1972, people were less than enthusiastic. A completely updated and expanded edition of the cult bestseller, featuring subway, light rail, and streetcar maps from new york to nizhny novgorod. He collaborated with the graphic designer reka komoli and the historian peter b. Designer massimo vignelli revisits and defends his iconic 1972 new york city subway map. The new york city subway map as youve never seen it. I deepened the reach of the l in my version of the 2016 version of new yorks subway. Oct 29, 2015 for those too young to remember, the great subway map war of 1978 pitted two schools of new york mapmaking nerds against each other in a heated debate in the great hall of manhattans cooper union. Paul shaw helvetica and the new york city subway system. The history of the nyc subway maps offers a specialized area for students of design, who must surely know the name massimo vignelli, the modernist designer who named the dc metro and created the notorious 1972 nyc transit map that, writes the mta metro transit authority, reimagined the mta new york city transit subway system as a neat grid. Vintage massimo vignelli subway map new york, new york. As an interesting aside, this same control house was recent1y sandblasted, and scores of neighborhood residents. Anyone with a penchant for map design was at the transit museum in brooklyn last night where the italian designer massimo vignelli and critic michael beirut discussed vignellis famous and controversial new york city subway diagram, designed in 1972 and used on the transport system until 1979 the vignelli map, still widely regarded as a design classic, was quite bold in its disregard for the.
Discover pieces in an audacious floral print from the designers springsummer 2020. May 27, 2014 designer massimo vignelli, known for his iconic new york city subway map and american airlines logo, among many other designs, died today at the age of 83. Dec 12, 2018 published by the museum of modern art in association with the new york transit museum, the book tells the story of how the nyc subway map was created in 1972. Its been over 30 years since the italian designers new york subway map was axed, but its still a passionate issue. Raleigh dadamo drew it, and with it, won a redesign.
In this picture book for older readers, weitzman recounts the construction of the citys first subterranean train system, beginning above ground with descriptions of new yorks crowded streets in 1904. For those too young to remember, the great subway map war of 1978 pitted two schools of new york mapmaking nerds against each other in a. How new yorks subway signs came to be the new yorker. The new york city subway map as youve never seen it before. The new york pass comes with a free nyc guidebook, packed with travel information to help you plan where to go, what to do and how to get there. A portion of the old subway diagram features in mark ovendens book transit maps of the world, published by penguin, october 30, 2007. The old rapid transit and the new, real estate record and builders guide october 29, 1904, vol xxiv, no 1911, p. May 16, 2018 the great new york subway map guides young readers to graphic design. The subway map was published by the mta between 1974 and 1979. Jul 27, 2010 when i got back to new york, i saw our subway map really saw it for the first time since i was a kid.
A great way to introduce young readers to the idea of graphic design as a way to solve problemssuch as creating a map that can be understood by new yorkers and outoftowners alike. Books in 2020 subway map design, new york subway, subway map. Such fealty to a font is to be expected when the honored guest is massimo vignelli, the graphic designer known for the 1972 new york city subway map, among other iconic designs. The goal was a new subway map that included city features and was easy to read, intuitive and understandable, designed to facilitate the use of the infrastructure not only by residents, but also by tourists. Over the years, several artists have taken a crack at redesigning the nyc transit map. The map of the new york city subway system was designed in 1972 by. Design books we offer out of print, scarce and rare books, prints and photographs. On the new york public librarys blog, cynthia chaldekas of the midmanhattan library wrote an article about the subways history, john tauranac talks new york city subway map history, recounting a talk given by map designer john tauranac in april 2010 at the nypl. In a book illustrated for the moma, emiliano ponzi tells the genesis.
Massimo vignelli, one of the greatest 20th century. And i thought, compared to londons, our subway map is poorly designed. In 1972, the renowned italian designer massimo vignelli redesigned george salomons new york subway map, which persisted until 1979, when superseded by michael hertzs design. Adamo won a contest to design a better diagram for the new york subway. Emiliano ponzi is an illustrator based in milan, he works for international clients as new york times, new yorker, le monde. Wnw magazine the great new york subway map introduces young. Dont cheat me, says a heated massimo vignelli during an aigany event earlier this year. When i got back to new york, i saw our subway map really saw it for the first time since i was a kid. Designer massimo vignelli, known for his iconic new york city subway map and american airlines logo, among many other designs, died today at the age of 83. The new york city subway map is an anomaly among subway maps around the world, in that it shows city streets, parks, and neighborhoods juxtaposed among curved subway lines, whereas other subway maps like the london underground map do not show such aboveground features and show subway lines as straight and at 45 or 90degree angles. In glorious, colorful graphics, mark ovenden traces. Wnw member emiliano ponzi was sitting in momas associate publishers office pitching one project when the conversation shifted. Massimo vignelli explains his iconic 1972 new york city. When i received the new childrens book, the great new york subway map by emiliano ponzi moma and new york transit museum the title surprised me almost as much as when vignellis original 1972 map was introduced.
New york citys subway celebrated its centennial in 2004. When i received the new childrens book, the great new york subway map by emiliano ponzi moma and new york transit museum the title surprised me almost as. Where previous versions relied on a more recognizable approach to the. The great new york subway map book moma design store. It was a tool for navigating the subways, although not one for navigating the city streets. The story of how a group of graphic designers headed by massimo vignelli remade the new york subway map to make it easier to read and understand. Unique experiences and special collaborationsavailable only for a limited time. Apr 29, 2014 in 1970, vignelli and noorda completed the new york city transit authority graphics standards manual, a hundredandseventyfourpage document that established the subways modern identity. It was a marvelous conceptual map, and it was easy to read.
The mostly true story of helvetica and the new york city subway. Asset 9 new yorks subway map like youve never seen it before. Massimo vignelli explains his iconic 1972 new york city subway. The great new york subway map book ny transit museum store. The great new york subway map emiliano ponzi ponzi the great new york subway map nearly 6 million riders use the new york city subway every day.
New york massimo vignelli, a graphic designer whose new york subway map both guided and confounded riders in the 1970s while generations of shoppers carried his bloomingdales brown. New york city in the 70s was not the city that it is todaythe subway in particular was seen as dirty and dangerous. Lloyd, who is writing a book about the history of new yorks subway system, to digitally restore the map. The weekender map vignelli on the left and the official map tauranac on the right. Dec 12, 2017 vintage new york subway map wall art print. Its like a public library, but on the new york subway. The modern new york city subway mapthe one that you see in subway stations and train carswas born in 1964. In 1970, vignelli and noorda completed the new york city transit authority graphics standards manual, a hundredandseventyfourpage document. Mta new york city subway large print edition, with railroad connections jamaicasutphin blvd long island rail road subway airtrain jfk 34 streetherald sq subway city hall subway bklyn bridgecity hall subway 4,5,6 only court stborough hall subway jay stmetrotech subway 2,3 and northbound 4,5 atlantic avbarclays ctr long island rail. Perhaps the most prominent and most talked about design is that of massimo vignelli. While the public of new york has read pages about the great engineer who designed the subway, the farseeing financier who backed it, and the hardy contractor who never doubted its practicability, the men who did the actual work of construction are almost strangers to the thousands who now are enjoying the benefits of their labors.
The new 2015 edition no longer includes my map, but its still pretty good. I remember thinking that the new york subway map was the opposite of the beck map. A groundbreaking work of information design, the subway map continues to be used by over a billion people each year. The great new york subway map has has been created in partnership with the new york city transit museum. Vignelli transit maps describes the history of the new york subway maps and follows this citys transportation growth from separate, independent lines to one large system. Both a love letter to new york city and an introduction to graphic design, this is the story of how the designer massimo vignelli tackled the problem of creating a.
Nov 18, 2008 the 1964 ta map competition was apparently the idea of len ingalls, director of public information and community relations at the agency, who was eager to see if the london underground map s colorcoding could be applied to the new york city subway map. He has written several books on the paris and london underground systems. Transit maps of the world is the first and only comprehensive collection of historical and current maps of every rapidtransit system on earth. May 28, 2014 massimo vignelli, an acclaimed graphic designer who gave shape to his spare, modernist vision in book covers and shopping bags, furniture and corporate logos, even a church and a new york city. I love the idea and the graphics are well done but my copy of the book suffered some.
Plan your sightseeing with a comprehensive guidebook, complete with attraction information, travel tips, city map, subway map, contact information and more. Published by the museum of modern art in association with the new york transit museum, the book tells the story of how the nyc subway map was created in 1972. The great new york subway map hardcover the elliott bay. There are new books every day, and theyre there to be taken, read, shared, and most importantly, enjoyed. We packed this map on our recent trip to new york the first time the kids had been to the states and found it totally invaluable. Guide map to the architecture, art and design of the new york subway bloodworth, sandra, tonn, linda, woods, jason on.
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