The first three chapters of the part The system of Ilya Birman’s Designing Transit Maps are out. The chapters are ‘Variability’, ‘Index and coordinate grid’, and ‘Line diagrams’.
The book speaks of transit maps history, important principles of their design, and how they evolve together with their networks. The author talks about techniques: plotting the lines, denoting the stops, choosing the fonts, and composing the final poster.
Few designers have an occasion to design a subway map. But the principles and techniques discussed are applicable to any tasks of complex information display: org charts, family trees, control‑flow diagrams, fire escape plans, military operation plans, project timelines, architectural drawings. The book sharpens the reader’s eye and inculcates attention to detail.
Variability
You have to adapt the map you’ve designed to different formats, mediums, scenarios, passengers, languages. The train version may differ from the ticket hall version, the map in a booklet may differ from the interactive map on the website. Therefore a well‑designed map is not just a picture, but rather a complete graphics system. What characteristics do these variants have? What should be common and what can be different? How to optimize the work on them?
Index and coordinate grid
While a map helps you plan and follow your route, an alphabetical station index helps you find the station on the map. How to design a coordinate grid? What magic allows you to do without it? How to neatly layout the index? How to sort and group elements in it?
Line diagrams
A line diagram is a diagram of only one line or route. Unlike a map of the entire transportation system, which helps to plan the route, a one‑route map helps to stay on track, make decisions confidently, and evaluate progress as you go along. Line diagrams may have their own variability, represent closed and branching routes, show more line information than a system map, highlight the current station, and work as directional signage.
Sample chapter
The chapter ‘Bends’ is available for free. In the chapter Ilya Birman shows good and bad ways to bend the lines, introduces the bend visibility principle, talks about harmonizing the bends in line bundles.
Preorder
Preorder is available as before and you can start reading the book right now. If you choose to subscribe to the book before it’s fully published, you will get 2 extra months free. Your official subscription time hasn’t started ticking yet—we’ll start your subscription clock later. The book is being published in parts, and the readers still have their paid year plus 2 months as a gift.
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