Oct 10, 2004 massimo vignelli, cofounder of unimark international, acknowledged as one of the great identity consultancies of the 20th century. Oct 11, 2017 classic 1970s vignelli subway map uncovered at midtown subway station gothamist massimo vignellis enduring nyc subway legacy curbed next up in mta. New york city subway map is among the greatest design emphemera in the history of visual communication. Vignellis subway map for little ones you know youve really made the big time when a childrens book commemorates your achievements, as has been done for george washington, madame currie, martin luther king, john f. This very detailed map of the new york subway system, was designed.
Interborough rapid transit irt, brooklyn manhattan transit bmt, and independent subway system ind. Massimo vignelli taught me how to ride the nyc subway, though i didnt know it at the time. Dec 10, 20 that would have given new jersey the clarity that manhattan currently has in the map. A lesson for today as in almost any other largescale urban design undertaking, todays subway experience took shape over many decades, morphing through various forms along the way. May 28, 2014 a selfstyled information architect, mr. Classic 1970s vignelli subway map uncovered at midtown subway station gothamist massimo vignellis enduring nyc subway legacy curbed next up in mta. The new york city subway map has undergone several complete revisions over the.
Jan 14, 2015 in 2010, vignelli, cifuentes, and waterhouse updated their 2008 redesign of vignellis iconic 1972 subway map for digital use within the metropolitan transportation authoritys weekender. Chris cloutier shows the delicate process of linen backing a vintage original subway map from 1972 designed by massimo vignelli. Mighty wallet is the original, invented in 2005, that launched a global trend of wallet designs made with tyvek. Massimo vignelli, cofounder of unimark international, acknowledged as one of the great identity consultancies of the 20th century. Jan 10, 2017 vignelli would later use that typeface in a 1972 map of the new york city subway, itself celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. When designer massimo vignellis redesigned new york city subway map appeared in 1972, people were less than enthusiastic. Massimo vignellis a few basic typefaces vignelli presented his now famous type philosophy at an sva exhibition in 1991, revisiting it 20 years later for his canon. New insights from late subway sign maestro massimo vignelli vignellis 1972 nyc subway map image via nyc subway poster designers talk vignelli, standards and the. Massimo vignelli nyc transit map uncovered in a midtown. Sep 06, 2017 chris cloutier shows the delicate process of linen backing a vintage original subway map from 1972 designed by massimo vignelli. The modernist designer massimo vignelli is the father of new york citys famous 1972 subway map. See more ideas about vignelli, massimo vignelli, graphic design. Each watch face has a fragment of vignellis iconic diagram centered on your choice of four stations or landmarks.
Vignelli would later use that typeface in a 1972 map of the new york city subway, itself celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Robert noorda and massimo vignelli created a system of signage that the ta adopted and which still pervades every station in the subway today. In 1960, together with his wife lella vignelli, he established the vignelli office of design and architecture in milan. Lines running local, then express and then local again is a special feature of the new york city subway that. Graphic design legend massimo vignellis nyc subway design. Massimo vignellis 1972 nyc subway map is back yours for the low, low price of 299 bucks for one copy of the limited edition of 500. Urban enthusiasts mourned the death of massimo vignelli, the graphic designer who created the iconic 1972 nyc subway map. He designed graphic systems that had and still have a real utility for millions of people every day, thanks to his determination of understanding users real needs. His ethos was, if you can design one thing, you can. Classic 1970s new york city subway map designed by italian artist massimo vignelli. Massimo vignelli, visionary designer who untangled the subway.
Apr 24, 2008 massimo vignellis 1972 nyc subway map is back yours for the low, low price of 299 bucks for one copy of the limited edition of 500. The one part of the design that proved too radical for new yorkers at the time was a map of the system. Oct 23, 2015 the weekender map vignelli on the left and the official map tauranac on the right. The vignelli canon in 2009 massimo vignelli generously released a free pdf document. A peek at massimo vignellis glorious forgotten subway maps. Massimo vignelli explains his infamous 1972 new york subway map and the controversy it caused. Vintage massimo vignelli subway map new york, new york. Lines running local, then express and then local again is a. Mta news remembering massimo vignelli, acclaimed designer. Jan 10, 2017 new insights from late subway sign maestro massimo vignelli vignellis 1972 nyc subway map image via nyc subway poster designers talk vignelli, standards and the fetish for. The color scheme for each route has remained basically the same although the representation of the routes have changed.
Remembering massimo vignelli, acclaimed designer of controversial 1972 subway map may 28th, 2014 massimo vignelli, the influential graphic designer who reimagined the mta new york city transit subway system as a neat grid of colored lines surrounded by a beige ocean, died tuesday in manhattan at the age of 83. While the subway was dark, intimidating and at times threatening, it was something you would have to master to survive. Nyc subway diagram 2008 by massimo vignelli for mens vogue. As described in the daily news 8672 in order to stress the transit routes themselves, the geographical features of the city are faded into the background in. Not only is hearing massimos voice a treat, but he shares the basic concept of his new york subway map design, its evolution and why he insisted on abstraction in spite of. Vignelli gave modernist shape to book covers, shopping bags, furniture, corporate logos and, famously, a subway map. An historical catalogue of maps of the new york city subway system. May 18, 2008 massimo vignelli recently updated his iconic 1972 new york city subway map for the may 2008 issue of mens vogue. Here we get to see some of massimo vignellis metro subway map ideas, even though they werent actually used.
Massimo vignelli explains his iconic 1972 new york city. Even though massimo didnt get to design the maps, he did design the signage for the dc metro subway, so he absolutely managed to leave his mark. Where previous versions relied on a more recognizable approach to the. Homenavigate home table of contents pages by date newest images images from todays date in history about the. For most of the nineteenseventies, the official route map of the new york city subway system was a beautiful thing. It was a marvelous conceptual map, and it was easy to read. The maps come in printed versions or as an online pdf file. Jun 21, 2008 massimo vignelli explains his infamous 1972 new york subway map and the controversy it caused. Each watch face has a fragment of vignelli s iconic diagram centered on your choice of four stations or landmarks. The subway map that rattled new yorkers the new york times.
Keep track of how late the g train is running with this watch featuring pieces of authentic new york city subway map designed by legendary italian modernist massimo vignelli. Vignellis output and influence was vast, but this is a newsletter about transit map research and design, and so it seems appropriate to pause and reflect on one. In this way the route diagram was simplified and reading the map is selfexplanatory. The weekender map vignelli on the left and the official map tauranac on the right. Many transit maps for the new york city subway have been designed since the subways. Subway map designer massimo vignellis upper east side. Return of the vignelli map pdf transit map, nyc subway map. More than iconic, the new york city subway map is a coat of arms for a way of life. Spanish studio husmee asked designers around the world to create a poster that commemorates the legendary designer a year after his death. Vignelli has designed the identity for american airlines, and signage for the nyc subway system and the dc metro system. Its designed by vignelli associates in the same style as massimo vignellis lovedorloathed 1972 map, and it shows all of.
Vignelli subway map watch mta subway uncommon goods. It was there that he first studied art and architecture, until he came to america in 1957. The exhibition showed work that we had done over many years by using only four typefaces. In 1972, the renowned italian designer massimo vignelli redesigned george salomons new york subway map, which persisted until 1979. Youcansayit withhelvetica extralightifyou wanttobereally fancy. As has been pointed out, the original vignelli map actually had 30 different colors. The vignelli subway map goes digital the new yorker. He was the cofounder of vignelli associates, with his wife, lella. Take a look inside massimo vignellis famous 1972 subway map. Ny subway map in 2008, massimo redid the renowned ny subway map. Unrealised dc metro subway map designs by massimo vignelli.
Apr 12, 2018 massimo vignelli is one of the most important figures in the history of design and graphic design in particular. Massimo vignelli, designer of the stillcontroversial 1972 subway map, the mtas striking graphics standard manual and troves of other acclaimed modernist works, has died at age 83. New york subway map massimo vignelli pdf massimo vignelli and lella at the rit cary graphic arts collection with a specimen of his. The new york city subway map redesigned tommi moilanen medium. The design of the subway map by massimo vignelli, published by the mta between. This massimo vignelli poster announces the school of visual arts third in a series of exhibitions honoring the great visual communicators of our time. Massimo vignellis a few basic typefaces fonts in use. Bec k 1933, with derived v ersion s continuing to day, and the new york city subway.
I came to new york in 1974 to study art at the cooper union, a kid from the suburbs of cleveland, new to the hostile and gritty city. Vignelli, designer of famous subway map, defends his version. Carnegie hall, washington square, penn station, or grand. The map design was inspired by massimo vignelli s 1972 new york city subway map. Transit maps rit press, 2012 and the rest in the forthcoming selfpublished volumes.
A nightservice map, created by charles gordanier of the mta, was first released in january 2012. Vignellis map of the new york subway mapping london. He is a packaging designer, a furniture designer, a graphic designer and so much more. His version colorful lines against a white background, only a nod to geography was in use for much of the 1970s and lives on in the mtas weekender map. The map design was inspired by massimo vignellis 1972 new york city subway map. Vignelli also updated his 1972 new york city subway map for an. It was a tool for navigating the subways, although not one for navigating the city streets. Named an segd fellow in 2001, vignelli called himself an information architect, and he stamped all of his workfrom his controversial new york city subway map to books and corporate identities. Mta new york city transit bergen street sign shop, new york, ny. In 1972, the mta unveiled a new map designed by vignelli, only to replace its geometric lines with a different, easiertoread map in 1979. Massimo vignelli, fsegd, the graphic designer whose modernist sensibility lent new clarity to signage and information in public spaces, died may 27 at his home in manhattan.
Massimo vignelli, visionary designer who untangled the. Spearheaded by vignelli, and considered to be one of the most iconic pieces in the history of graphic design, the official 1972 map of the new york subway system was given a mixed reception. Jun 12, 2018 in 1972, the mta unveiled a new map designed by vignelli, only to replace its geometric lines with a different, easiertoread map in 1979. February 22 to march 8, 1991 at the visual arts museum. This diagram represents all lines and stations of 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. January 10, 1931 may 27, 2014 was an italian designer who worked in a number of areas ranging from package design through houseware design and furniture design to public signage and showroom design. Remembering massimo vignelli, acclaimed designer of controversial 1972 subway map may 28th, 2014 massimo vignelli, the influential graphic designer who reimagined the mta new york city transit subway system as a neat grid of colored lines surrounded by a beige ocean, died tuesday in. Massimo vignelli and his 1972 ny subway map youtube. Previous mefi comments on the famed design, which the new york mta eventually shitcanned.
Massimo vignellis enduring nyc subway legacy curbed ny. But the ta did not follow up vignelli s preliminary study of the map as they were already at the testing stage of their own new map. And, his love for helvetica was so powerful youcansayi loveyouin helvetica. The subway map was completely redesigned by massimo vignelli. Like the equally famous harry beck tube map for london, the map eschewed geographical accuracy, instead presenting the system in a more. Jan 19, 2017 to vignelli, this wasnt a map of landscape. We recently discovered a treasure in the segd archives. By original i was thinking of the nyc part of the above map. Vignelli, designer of famous subway map, defends his. Before 1940, the subway system was made up of three companies.
In 1970 vignelli designed a diagrammatic map for the new york subway system, following harry becks design criteria from his london underground map 1933thus using only 45 and 90 degrees lines. 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. May 27, 2014 massimo vignelli, designer of the stillcontroversial 1972 subway map, the mtas striking graphics standard manual and troves of other acclaimed modernist works, has died at age 83. Yesterday, urban enthusiasts and designphiles mourned the death of massimo vignelli, the graphic designer who created the iconic 1972 subway map.
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