Subway maps design

Subway maps design

"Organizing functionality and content into a structure that people are able to navigate intuitively doesn't happen by chance. Information architecture (IA) is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems"-That's about 'Information Architecture design' an important usability process for designing computer based applications.

What if 'Information Architecture' is used for design of Subway or Tube map.

If you've seen such interesting transport maps in Singapore, Bangkok, California rail and London. I'm sure it's not easiest task, it's quite an innovative mind at work as massive physical navigation to be designed.If you've seen Subway maps, they are not just another city map. They've lot of inter-connections, information, visual cues which are part of intelligent design.

When I first got into London underground Tube in 2007, I just loved the simplicity and effective design of 'Tube Maps' of London. Color, mapping, context points are well designed by Harry Beck at 1933.It has become the iconic signature of London too.

I've observed many media houses using tube map design to convey the common meaning of the product advertisement. London has a massive commuters who uses underground tubes for daily travel. They not only speaks English & all possible languages and many don't even know to read English. Designing a navigational route to such 'diverse audience' must be a challenge.

I found an interesting read on the conceptualization, ideation, design and evolution of such maps design at the World's Most Impressive Subway Maps