Introduction
Work & Co has launched the first major redesign of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) subway map in 40 years. Goes to show how good design and the latest digital technology can simplify one of the world's most complex transit systems.
This project is a collaboration between Work & Co, The MTA, and The Transit Innovation Partnership. Work & Co led the project in concept design, detailed design, technical architecture, web application development, and quality assurance. The map, which is web-based – updates routes to illustrate current and accurate train service status – and is accessible across multiple devices without a download.
(Innovation such as the zoom feature, bring details such as neighborhoods, exact subway entrances, and street names to the forefront)
Key Features
The new map, which is currently in beta, include:
- Automatically updating train lines: Train lines will redraw themselves using real-time data to illustrate current and accurate train service status. Sections of train lines fade out where a train line is not running and are denoted with dashes if trains are running in a single direction.
- Moving trains: The user will see trains moving, which helps to signal to users that the map is live and also reflect real-time locations of trains throughout the subway system.
- Zoom-In features: Greater map detail is exposed as the user zooms in, including the ability to see individual train lines, subway entrances, station names, and street locations and names.
- Subway accessibility: The new map highlights accessible stations and provides updates to accessibility-related equipment like elevators and escalators.
- Emergency alerts: The map uses the MTA’s data feed to convey official MTA communications for emergencies.
The Map of the Future(The Map 2020, 10 minutes - video courtesy of Gary Hushwit)
Work & Co also collaborated with Gary Hustwit —the director of design documentaries, including Helvetica, Objectified, and Rams— to produce a short film titled "The Map." The film is an exploration of how New York's subway maps have evolved, and how technology has helped simplify one of the world's most complicated systems. I believe we are witnessing the earliest foundations for transit systems around the world to adopt a real-time transit maps, inspiring us to reach further into the possibilities with technology.
team: the MTA, the transit innovation partnership, and work & co
website: live NYC subway map
