Making the NYC Subway User-Friendly Through Effective Visuals

How Vignelli’s Map Design Unified the Subway System.

“When In Doubt Ask A Subway Employee.” Independent Subway System (IND) Map circa 1937. The IND Subway System was intended to be operated by the municipal government unlike the privately owned Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit (BMT) and Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT).

When the New York City Subway system consolidated under a single operator in 1940 it was clear that integrating three independently owned subway systems (IND, IRT, and BMT) into user-friendly transportation would be essential. However the subway system was incredibly complex: 472 stations in operation 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week with 245 miles of routes translating into 665 miles of revenue track. Each of the three original companies had their own styles, signage, and maps for their respective lines. The newly formed subway system needed to be cohesive and enable the customer to navigate without confusion.

Like the New York City Subway system consolidation, decluttering data visuals can enhance the user experience. Unifying how information is conveyed cuts down the processing time for users and speeds up consumption and comprehension of what is being presented.

1924 BMT Subway Map (Left) and 1906 IRT Subway Map (Right) Both systems were purchased by New York City in 1940 and merged along with the IND to form the NYC Subway System. Each company had their own map style, layout and lettering and did not include the other’s routes on their respective maps.

Emphasis on text, numbers and data points will lead the audience to the information we want them to know. Cole Knaflic’s book, Storytelling with Data outlines the following…