One of only 2 of the underground networks i'm looking at that i've actually been on. The New York Subway can be recognised almost instantly by two things - first, the super iconic Helvetica-everything Massimo Vignelli designed Subway signs, and the EXTRA METALLY heavily aluminium subway trains. Whenever I think of the Subway, this is always what comes to mind - that and graffiti, thanks to the hiphop scene of the 70's when the subway was essentially just run downa and full of crime.
A really particular haunting and eerily cool thing I always remember from riding the subway was the layout of a lot of the platforms. In contrast to most of the Tube in london which is largely just a standard tubular tunnel, a lot of the platforms in new york run long and thin, and when its dark and poorly lit you can look for miles into cavernous darkness on either side of the platforms when the trains haven't pulled in.
A lot of the lines have these really awesome block colour-printed seats too. I think they go well with all the EXTRA SHINY ALUMINIUM and the block, sans serif helvetica.
Key visual stuff to note from the City Subway
- Shiny trains
- block, sharp, vector-friendly colours and font.
- grungry, dark, contrasting backgrounds
- bright printed seats
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