Having just been in London for the first time, I was really fascinated by the “helpful distortion” in the Tube map. It’s a brilliant design decision to have the Underground map not necessary that related to the overground geography that makes the Tube map so simple to read and understand. It’s a simple solution, but it took a bold decision to make it happen — most people simply aren’t comfortable with the lack of geographical relationship between stations and compared to overground landmarks. The proposed NYC “Kick map” is possibly even better — a really great solution that will probably never get implemented.
http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/396-helpful-distortion-at-nyc-london-subway-maps
001 // Kirk // 04.26.2007 // 2:03 PM
My God I wish the city would get with it and run with this map. I grew up in NYC and I never really understood the subway system properly despite using it almost daily. Since moving to London I’m always impressed with how quickly people like yourself get the hang of the Underground. It’s all down to the mapping and excellent signage (something else that NYC is sorely in need of). I say throw it open to the public, get the tourist board to run some surveys. In the end I have no doubt that if this happened (which of course it won’t), the Kick Map would be brought into effect.