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tomasNY — New York Subway map
Published: 2008-08-22 19:56:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 18410; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 11684
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Description
Inspired by Massimo Vignelli's NYC Subway map of 1973 and 2008, this is my (unfinished) subway map of the five boroughs some Nassau, some Wechester and eastern New Jersey... People that know me personally really know that I' m obsessed with maps... I know it's totally irrelevant with anything I submitted till now, but I really want some feedback, especially from New Yorkers... Do U prefer the MTA one??? Any big mistakes till now??? U don't like something abt it???Related content
Comments: 30
Hi, I really like maps and love finding my way with the help of a map or exploring the whole city with a map. That's why I might want to start drawing my own maps just like you. Because some maps are so bad that they don't even help you to find your way but confuse your mind. And I like to mark important places or the places I liked, like a restaurant or a small shop etc. and want to remember them.
Can you tell me how you actually did this? If you could tell me at least which program you have used I might try to start drawing my own maps, too.
Great job!!!
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This map is beautiful. But ive been looking at it for a while.. heres what I have to say..
I like it from a graphical point. All the lines clump together in Manhattan, and the adjacency of line is what seems to be the discriminating factor. Meaning the subway tunnels are densest in Manhattan and less so in Brooklyn, and thats what hits me first.
I also like that it completely obliterates the geographical boundaries. However, I am curious as to why no one seems to accept a map that is geographically correct will maintaining highlighted subway information. The way you do it, I could only figure out where to go, once i know what station I'm at. If I wanted to look for Lower East Side, and connect it to Pratt, I probably would not be able to do that with this map.
Things are so far removed from their original positions on the geographical map, that it probably doesnt make sense to even include shaded regions showing land and water. What if those layers were turned off? You would be left with a remnant of information that is completely undecipherable. However, I bring back the density thing - without the shaded regions, the density and clumping of line will tell me what is transverable by foot and what I need the subway for. I would love to see a map like this, one that ignores land and water, and only shows points of interest and intransverable space. Maintaining some geographic organization might be necessary.
Graphically, I would make some edits; there needs to be consistency with all the spacings. Some lines are closer together because they are the same color, while sometimes lines of different colors are just as close. And when a line isnt adjacent to another, that space should be the same throughout. Im guessing all these issue will be resolved when the map is specific to a certain purpose. Right now I am not sure what purpose that is.
I would start by making a rule set, specific rules for what happens and why. Exactly why a certain line is adjacent to another, why they overlap and why they shouldnt. Also, introducing some distance and separation (but only slightly) would help the viewer pick out points of interest.
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I couldn't agree more with your comments Gautam. It was always in my plan to re-do the map from scratch, especially Manhattan where most of the intertwining of the 3 systems is taking place. The problem with the city is it's grid. While the major cities in Europe do not follow a grid (much older cities- curvy road-no blocks, crazy rivers) subway lines follow a path of their own, without necessarily corresponding to an avenue (8th Ave line (A)(C)(E), 6th Ave line (B)(D)(F)(M). The tube lines in London are a labyrinth reaching destinations than following avenues. While using 45 and 90 degrees angles makes sense on maps (or diagrams in our case) that underground and overground are completely unrelated what so ever, in New York that is invalid.
Take a look at this [link] example. This is geographically correct subway map of the city and it is completely unrelated to the maps we learned to hate. In midtown and downtown all subway lines are in the core of the island leaving the East and West side completely blank. Look at the density of lines and stations in the old downtown, and in downtown Brooklyn. Because of the system it self is really difficult to maintain a descent level of graphical understanding without disturbing geographical accuracy. Nevertheless in the next redesign I will try to balance both. It is indeed impossible to navigate in the city with this map (sorry diagram!) One could try using the MTA map which includes a wide array of neighborhood names and landmarks. The problem with this map is that it is plain ugly. There is just to much fragmentation all over it which makes it unpleasant, and the fact that it looks like an actual map can make the user take as granted the scale -distances- which can result into some serious walking...!
My idea is that the modern user would see an add on the internet or at school of a new store. The add would include (and usually does) transit info e.g: (F) L.E.S. 2nd Avenue. And then at the station map (big scale-accurate-not a diagram) you could navigate the rest of the journey.
Having in mind that 4 out of 5 boroughs are on islands in New York City eliminating the rivers that separate them wouldn't make a lot of sense from a navigation stand point. Graphically it has been already attempted and it is really interesting in a way but it would be a nightmare for tourists! [link] .
Finally I am planing to establish a rule set for distances between lines on the version, when I reach an understanding on what I'm really seeking for... What kind of map - or diagram - do you seek to utilize?
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Hmm. I believe function and purpose precede aesthetics.. so a map that functions as a map to something is what I seek. If it places graphical attraction over informational value, then It would just be a pretty diagram. But as long as the map is used a certain way, in a specific way, I think I would hold on to it. At any time, I might wonder how to navigate my way around New York, and that may include hopping from one downtown borough center to the next, or getting from one suburb of apartments to another group on another island. Seeing the routes as more than just subway stops. I dont know, for my the map you linked (the first one) seems perfectly fine as a MAP. It works perfectly and does not disguise any information; it is easy to read and recognize because it is what it is. Anything else would be a specialized map; thats the only logical path I would take with the map. Making it specialized to show a mapping of certain information; like a diagram for getting to the most populated areas or the least populated areas, indicated by density of subway lines. Or if theyre all evenly spaced, without clumping, maybe the focus is on being able to pick out any station in a heartbeat. I would really think about the approach to the diagram; how is someone going to approach this diagram with the need to travel.
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I was never crazy about Vignelli's original 1973 subway map (from a navigation standpoint), but the unofficial update he made in 2008 for Men's Vogue was very elegant. I wouldn't try to "improve" on Vignelli's design; you can't. But there are a lot of line changes since 2008 that need updating. Pay attention to the smallest details. Don't use Arial for a Vignelli design. Ever. Make sure to change the borough names to Helvetica throughout, and anywhere else that Arial is used. Craftsmanship is important, too, if you are going to copy a master. Curves have to be smooth and parallel strokes need to be parallel, even around curves. I'm not sure how Vignelli was able to pull that one off so well, but I suspect his studio used the "Offset Path" command in Illustrator CS4. Unfortunately, there are no PDFs of the 2008 map that you can download for reference, but it looks like you're off to a good start!
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Sorry for the very late reply:
I'm going to redo the map, but this time while attempting to maintain a little more the actual geography of Manhattan. I used arial not to disrespect helvetica, but just because helvetica is no where to find... Any ideas where I could get them?
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it looks great so far, there's one error, (5) runs to Flatbush Ave during mid-days as well as rush hour so its not necisarily a part lime line like (G) past Court Square or 👍: 0 ⏩: 0
The map style I prefer is the 1980s style, [link] The current map is still nice but the problem is all those little bubblets of the Bus Transfer information make it too busy
The map looks really cool. My only concern with it is the same one I had with the Vignelli map-- it provides too little information. (Try taking the B train on a weekend, for instance.)
Appearance-wise, though, it's pretty sweet.
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that's the price for a rather simple representation I guess....
I'm going to make an attempt to give more detail at the line's description on the left... The problem with it is that many changes are going to happen (again), so it's going to need update in no time...!!!
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na sou steilo ena tou parisiou? exei 1209343 grammes
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Inta mpou laleis kori???
Steile m na ton dw...!!!
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ouuu pou na ton skanaro avrio to proi tj na sou ton steilo 
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nai! en pio lies oi grammes pou tou parisiou! eshi tj ta leoforeia tj ta metro mesa?
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oi kori...
An evalla j ta buses htan na ginei telleia ths pophs...!!!
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I love Vignelli's map. it's as stylishly simple as the iconic London Underground map.
But on my first ever trip to NYC, we stopped by Pentagram New York and chatted to Michael Beirut. (probably the biggest name in the current Graphic Design industry) and he explained how he too loved Vignelli's map but that any stylish graphical interpretation map like this just doesn't suit Manhattan's geometric geography.
everyone knows how the city is grided into square blocks. when you mess with that reference system. you have to disgard the subway map as a viable means of navigation for anything other than the underground trains.
Example: look at Central Park in the map. it looks nearly square. (it was shortened in length because there's less station stops) But in reality the park is long and narrow. and no where near the shape it is on that map. so people unfamilar with the city would misinterpret the layout and get confused by how inacurate the perspective of the map is compared to the actual layout of the city.
that abstract graphical map system works perfectly in London because everything is spread out, and not layed out in any geometric rigid grid.
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I had everything in mind when I was constructing this one... I just hate, and I mean HATE the current one because it's too messed up... And I think that a map should be just a navigation tool, but also pleasant 2 the eye... ( a quite similar concept with Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum Across Central Park. As for the distorted scales Central park was mostly widdened than lengthened if U ask me... I tried to deal with scale issues a little (Staten Is is as big as it should B, the rockaways are where they are supposed to B and the Northern tip of Manhattan goes a little northern so the island looks more realist in analogies...) When I finish it I'm most probably printing it, so I can navigate with it...!!! Everything U R saying about the grid of Manhattan, is absolutely right but I believe that NYC deserves a descent subway map, like the ones in all the major cities in the world, and why not with 90 and 45 degrees angles??!
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b.t.w. Tomas:
[link] Ad-solut London
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yeah... I so it yesterday...!!
Very cool to notice that...!!!
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dude your map is gorgeous, don't get me wrong, it's much sexier to look at than the current shambles NYC uses. It's a great idea to print it out and use your own reference map to navigate around the city. (more people with the skills to do this should do it...design a map that THEY personally understand)
But I wouldn't use this map. simply because I don't know NYC geographically enough to rely on a distorted perspective. it's common nature for tourists to use any map they can get, as their guide to the layout of the city. and this distorted layout is too confusing compared to the reality of the city. But I take on board you tried extremely hard to make it so with the northern tip of manhattan and statton island, etc.
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it def took some time, and I'm very happy of the outcome (till know... there are still a lot of things 2 do...!!!) thanks 4 the compliment...! It's not that difficult 2 understand the geography in NYC... Trust me, next time U will come U should try using it... U won't B disjointed... Btw, I got a question... Are they still making new lines 2 the tube???
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I don't know about the 2 new tube lines. I'll have to check that out, mate.
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I don't know NY, so I can't help you for this map. But I like subway's maps ^^
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With many colours ^^
[link] 
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It looks big also...
Is it easy to use???
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yes, it's easy. (no no, it's not so big)
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Come on... It looks huge... I like the naturalistic subway entrances with the "Metropolitan" signs...!!!
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