When travelers aren’t following every turn, cartographers can take geographic liberties to represent an interconnected network. Massimo Vignelli brought a minimalistic approach to New York’s subway system. His map only lasted from this 1972 edition to 1978 before New Yorkers clamored for more faithful street-level geography. But the 2025 New York subway map returned to a similar design.
Lines Redefine Space
| Artist | Massimo Vignelli |
|---|---|
| Title | The Metropolitan Transportation Authority revised map of the rapid transit facilities of New York City Transit Authority |
| Year | 1972 |
| Dimensions | 45 x 45 cm |
| Location | David Rumsey Historical Map Collection |