/MTA_Map
Annually, Work & Co performs an internal survey to identify projects and clients the company's employees want to work on. MTA has always rated high up in that survey, and after some insistence, we were lucky enough to strike a partnership with MTA and their design firm to then develop a new version of their famous online map, pro-bono.
Under the geometry-rich leadership of Robert Penner, Work & Co developed a beautiful, data-rich new map that not only attempted to be more useful than ever, but also to settle long-disputed design questions between Vignelli's and Hertz' version of the iconic subway map.
While it was done for free, this was a long project. Its development took over a year, with a full team and a wonderful client that was fully invested in improving the user experience of the existing map. My own contributions were in helping optimize some data transformation performance, increase visual fidelity, and reduce overall memory usage.
Still, giving its significance, it's a project I'm most proud of having helped bring to life. I'm also excited to see where it is taken to after the beta phase ends.
Date
2020
Agency
Client
Type
Web
Platform
HTML
Programming Language
TypeScript
Role
Developer
Pure programming time
62h 40m
Programming Libraries
React, Redux, Reselect, OpenLayers
Original URL
More Info
Previews
Awards
Winner, Communication Arts Annual
Interactive ➝ Websites/Microsites
2021
Mentions
First Look: New York’s Digital Subway Map Comes Alive Today
“It’s so thoroughly up-to-the-moment that you can watch individual trains move around the system on your phone.”
(Curbed)
Finally, a Subway Map With Real-Time Train Locations and Delays
“The map will allow even the most novice straphanger to navigate the labyrinthine underground network, which is routinely plagued with disruptions.”
(The New York Times)
MTA’s Live Subway Map is a modern design masterpiece
“The new map has been heralded by the design community, and 100,000 riders are using it a month.”
(Fast Company)
NYC’s new subway tool settles the biggest debate in maps
“What Work & Co did, over the course of two years, was to create a new, digital map, that could combine the best of both worlds, including “the richness of the Hertz map and the clarity of the Vignelli diagram to have something that works for everybody.”
(Fast Company)
MTA Unveils New Digital "Live Subway Map" To Simplify Service Changes
“It's a huge step forward in communicating the often nearly incomprehensible service changes.”
(Gothamist)
MTA's new map lets you watch trains move in real time
(TimeOut New York)
Additional Credits
Design Partner
Felipe Memória
Technology Partner
Oliver Dore
Content
TJ Kearney
Product Management
Christina Kalsow-Ramos
Product Management
Kyle Fleisher
Product Management
Annie Lindahl
Product Management
Nick Bethlem
Designer
Marcela Abbade
Designer
Karina Sirqueira
Designer
Young Woo
Designer
Tsuriel Eichenstein
Designer
Sang Kim
Designer
Laura Pence Ambrose
Designer
Corbin Dowd
Copywriting
Anna Edwards
Lead Developer
Robert Penner
Developer
Pedro Putz
Developer
Estevão Lucas
Developer
Abbey Mondshein
Developer
Aaron Thomas
Developer
Maria Clara Santana
Developer
David Whitely
Quality Assurance
Kate Vnuk
Quality Assurance
Anna Vysotskaya