NAVIGATING THE LABYRINTH: UNIMARK INTERNATIONAL AND THE NEW YORK SUBWAY SYSTEM

On the 40th Anniversary of the New York City Transit Authority Graphics Standards Manual join Massimo Vignelli, Tom Geismar, Lance Wyman, Michael Hertz, Doris Halle and Peter Joseph in a conversation about the past, present and future of the New York City subway signage. The evening will be moderated by Paul Shaw and Jan Conradi.

Wednesday 3 February 2010
6:30–8:30PM
Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12TH Street
New York, NY 10016

6:30PM Check-in
7:00-8:30PM Discussion

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available for New School students, faculty and staff here.

Massimo Vignelli was one of the co-founders of Unimark International. With co-founder Bob Noorda he was responsible for the design of the New York City subway system signage between 1966 and 1970 and its codification in the New York City Transit Authority Graphics Standards Manual. Vignelli Associates, the firm he and his wife Lella established in 1971, designed the 1972 NYCTA subway map and the signage system for the Washington DC Metro.

Tom Geismar is a partner in Chermayeff & Geismar. He led the firm’s work on the Boston T signage system and designed its iconic logo.

Lance Wyman is Principal of Lance Wyman Ltd. He led the team that designed the logo, station icons and wayfinding system for the Mexico City Metro. As part of Wyman and Cannan Ltd. he designed the mapping system for the Washington DC Metro.

Michael Hertz is Principal of Michael Hertz Associates. Along with John Tauranac he is responsible for the 1979 subway map. HIs firm worked on several revisions to the 1970 manual during the 1980s, paving the way for the 1989 manual.

Doris Halle is an art director at the International Council of Shopping Centers. She was formerly Chief of Corporate Design at the MTA where her responsibilities included oversight of the 1989 and 1995 signage manuals.

Peter Joseph is Senior Project Manager at Michael Hertz Associates. He has worked on signage and maps for the MTA for over thirty years.

Paul Shaw is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Art History at the School of Visual Arts and the Department of Communication Design at Parsons: The New School for Design. He is the author of Helvetica and the New York City Subway System.

Jan Conradi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art at Rowan University. She is the author of Unimark International: The Design of Business and the Business of Design.