Yesterday, the MTA revealed its first complete subway map redesign in nearly 50 years. This new version combines two very different design styles: Massimo Vignelli’s 1972 modernist, abstract map and Michael Hertz’s more realistic 1979 map that replaced it. The result is something New York hasn't had in a long time—a map that's both beautiful and easier to use.

Let's go back a bit.

The 1972 Vignelli map was a bold vision for what a subway map could be—CLEAN, MINIMAL, and designed with a clear graphic logic. It got rid of the noise and reimagined the subway as a system of lines and connections, rather than actual locations. For designers, it was a landmark piece of work. But for the average rider, the abstracted layout made navigation tricky. The map prioritized STRUCTURAL CLARITY over REAL-WORLD ACCURACY. And so Central Park became a square. The distances didn't match the streets above. It was a beautiful system, but wasn’t always practical for getting from A to B.

In 1979, the MTA switched to Michael Hertz’s version. This map followed the layout of the city more closely, helping people better connect what they saw on the map with what they saw outside. And it worked—I grew up with this map. It was FUNCTIONAL and FAMILIAR, but over time, it got crowded. More lines. More stations. More noise. The system kept evolving, but the map didn't evolve with it.

THE 2025 REDESIGN CHANGES THAT.

It keeps the usability of the Hertz map while bringing back the CLARITY, COLOR, and CONFIDENCE of Vignelli’s design. Bold lines. Brighter, more distinct colors. Simpler transfers. Station names you can actually read from across the platform. And crucially—ADA-accessible stations are now clearly marked, not buried in the details. That alone makes a huge difference for so many riders.

This update isn't about looking backward. It's about moving forward.

A subway map is not just a poster, it's a tool that people rely on every single day. And the old version, while familiar, wasn't doing the job anymore. For decades, the MTA had to layer patches and band-aids onto an outdated system. This redesign finally breaks free of that approach and says: LET’S DO THIS RIGHT.

Not everyone will love it at first. That's how change works. People often prefer what they’re used to—even if what they’re used to doesn’t work well.

But good design solves problems. And this redesign solves several.

It honors the past without being stuck in it. It puts USABILITY FIRST. And it works for EVERYONE—not just locals, but tourists, seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone trying to make sense of the city.

To me, that's what public design is all about: making life easier, clearer, and more accessible for everyone involved.

The map won't fix everything, but it's a solid step in the right direction. And more importantly—it shows how that smart, human-centered design can still make a real difference.

This is design done right.