Wednesday, April 7, 2010

One Color NY Subway Map






Brooklyn based designers David Heasty and Stefanie Weigler of Triboro have produced a new New York City subway map printed in a single color–florescent red. The map has been printed in a limited edition offset-litho run of only 300 pieces. At 45 x 58 inches the poster is the same size as the large MTA Subway maps that are located at entrances to New York Subway stations.
The new design strips away the familiar color-coding of the subway system routes while still maintaining a level of hierarchy and functionality. All lines of the map are forced to conform to an underlying grid of 45 and 90 degree angles, yet surprisingly, the landmass contours here are more true-to-life than on the MTA map. The florescent red color becomes an unpredictable variable, as legibility can change completely under different lighting conditions. The neon effect can be intense and retina-burning under certain lamps, washed out and unreadable in other environments, or glow otherworldly under black-lights.

I agree with the whole legibility issue due to its neon red color, may be very difficult to read as it is an informative poster. I'd love to see the eldery's reaction to this approach. Mind you, you'd be able to spot a map a mile away with this color. I think it's a stunning piece regardless.

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