Friday Eye Candy: Seven Maps of the NYC Subway

The modernist designer Massimo Vignelli, who created the 1972 version of the New York City Subway map, passed away this week at 83.

1 minute read

May 30, 2014, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


To honor Vignelli's passing, Will Doig presents seven creative and lesser-known versions of the New York City Subway system that fans of transit, maps, and New York City (but not necessarily in that order) will enjoy. A sample of the subway system, as presented in these unique representations:

  • "When the current New York subway map was introduced in 1979, designer Nobu Siraisi quickly recognized what a mess it was around the Atlantic Avenue station in Brooklyn. So Siraisi redrew that section of the map by hand, in a sketch that never made it off the drawing board, but is somehow gorgeous in its simplicity."
  • "For 'I Love NY' in map form, Seoul-based designers Zero Per Zero embeded [sic] New York’s transit system into a heart shape, rendering it cuddlier than it probably has a right to be."
  • The article also includes a video of "the New York subway map as string instrument, using the actual train schedule to create the symphony."

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in Next City

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today