Finally it is complete! … Click map to view. Be patient it may take a while.

I took it upon myself as a New Yorker and as a Designer to be challenged and ReDesign the NYC subway map. There is something to be said about the current map that we have today plastered all over the subway. It is functional, informational and too perfect. It lacks the style that it had in the 70′s.

The 70′s Map was designed by Massimo Vignelli ( and was a perfect combination of aesthetics and function. Maybe not functional as in geographic accuracy, but he made it easier to read the map, color coded the train lines, used Helvetica as the standard font and made it work as a piece of art. But many couldn’t understand the art and only looked at the flaws of such a great map. Sadly it was only around for a short period of time and in 1979 the current map was born, designed by Michael Hertz.

So my challenge for the map was to bring back the aesthetics of Vignelli’s Map, but also incorporate the functions of the current map. I also restricted myself to only 45° & 90° angles. And because this born and bred NYer moved to the green and cheaper pastures of NJ I included the PATH transit system as well.

I hope you enjoy. And if you would like to have a copy of your own, feel free to download the file here!!!

Pass it around and Thanks!!!