Helvetica and the new york city subway system the mit press. But it is not trueor rather, it is only somewhat true. He places this signage evolution in the context of the history of the new york city subway system, of 1960s transportation signage, of unimark international, and of helvetica itself. Shaws book is a history of the development of signage for the new york city subway system. This book tells the story of how typographic order triumphed over chaos. For a lifestudent and consumer of design history and culture publications, it ticks so many boxes that to merely enjoy it is really quite easy. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif and sans serif letters and decorative. It was the letter j that opened the door for helvetica into the subways. Long before helvetica became the defacto typeface of the new york city subway system, there was a mixture of elaborate tile mosaics, enamel, and hand painted signage. New york subways long dance with a typeface the new york times. Paul shaw for years, the signs in the new york city subway system were a bewildering hodgepodge of lettering styles, sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and messages. Helvetica and the new york city subway system paul shaw cambridge, ma. A book with 260 fullcolor illustrations offers an intriguing history of how the chaotic hodgepodge of signs littering the new york city subway system was standardized thanks in part to. While helvetica and the new york subway system is ostensibly about undoing the helvetica myth, it is more of an exploration into the mutable and untamed history of the new york subway system.
In helvetica and the new york city subway system, paul shaw 80gsas a lettering artist and design historian has a story to tell that is more obscure than most. New york design historian and lettering artist paul shaw knows the story better than anyone, and hell be on hand to share it with us on november 16. Shaw demonstrates that much of the look and feel of todays official signage is, in fact, the result of misinterpretation, obfuscation and politics. The chrystie street connection was to finally link disparate lines underground.
The mostly true story of helvetica and the new york city subway is helvetica really the typeface of the new york city subway. The almost true story of nycs subway helvetica brain. The book is a must read for sign nuts, design nuts, transit nuts, and all true lovers of new york. Buy on amazon helvetica and the new york city subway system by paul shaw. The true maybe story by paul shaw 2011, hardcover, new edition at the best online prices at ebay. Paul shaw helvetica and the new york city subway book transit. I always thought it odd that designers didnt take standard medium plus bold or other sans the franklins, news gothic, venus et cetera and just use them without modification. Vickers was the lead architect from 1908 to 1942 and was responsible for designing the stations of the city owned ind system, which, along with. Subway stamped in white foil on black linen in neue helvetica 65 medium. Below are photos from shaws book that offer glimpses into the past, present, and what might have been in.
Helvetica and the new york city subway system book. There is a commonly held belief that helvetica is the signage typeface of the new york city subway system, a belief reinforced by helvetica, gary hustwits popular 2007 documentary about the typeface. Paul shaw helvetica and the new york city subway system. Is helvetica really the typeface of the new york city subway. Paul shaw helvetica and the new york city subway book. Shaw describes the slow typographic changeover supplementing his text with more than 250 imagesphotographs, sketches, type samples, and documents.
The book version takes into account new information and is supplemented by comprehensive notes, a bibliography and a chronology of the new york city subway system. For years, the signs in the new york city subway system were a bewildering hodgepodge of lettering styles, sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and messages. Helvetica can be seen on the new york subway system and in countless other instantly recognisable logos. New york s first subway line opened in manhattan on october 27, 1904 with 28 stations. New york subway nyc subway subway art subway tiles s bahn i love nyc museum store new york city travel city maps this beautifully decorative high glaze, smooth surface photo reproduction ceramic tile is an excellent way to display a bit of new york city subway nostalgia in your home or office. The various transit systems had, by now, settled on a sans face loosely based on standard medium and in new york this eventually evolved into helvetica over the years.
Apr 29, 2014 how new yorks subway signs came to be. Originally built as three competing rail companies between 1904 and 1940, the new york city subway remained so fragmented, as historian clifton hood 86gsas explains in the book s foreword, that one companys trains did not fit in anothers tunnels. Helvetica has since become one of new yorks most visible symbols, although its conquest of the subway still. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif and sans serif letters and decorative elements. Helvetica and the new york city subway system by poggenpohl. Apr 04, 2011 it was not until 1989 that helvetica finally became the subways official typeface. How new yorks subway signs came to be the new yorker. Helvetica plays such an important part in our lives that the museum of modern art in new york is celebrating its 50th anniversary by acquiring a set of the original lead type, making it the first.
The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif an. Shaw describes the slow typographic changeover supplementing his text with more than. Helvetica and the new york city subway system mit press. The true maybe story, graphic designer and calligrapher paul shaw unravels this fascinating typographic changeover in an absorbing narrative augmented with over 250 photographs, sketches, type samples and original documents. Dec 04, 2008 it was the letter j that opened the door for helvetica into the subways. Type aficionados are well aware of this book study but i felt it was worthy of further tt exposure. It is hard not to simply gush about paul shaws helvetica and the new york city subway system. Paul shaws helvetica and the new york city subway tells the tale of the typographic triumph of the helvetica font and its unifying of the nyc transit system.
Tags history article signage voice graphic design typography information design paul shaw is a calligrapher and typographer working in new york city. It is within this context that, i will argue, paul shaws helvetica and the new york city subway system should be read. Helvetica and the new york city subway system copyright. Helvetica and the new york city subway system is a limited edition book an expanded, annotated and profusely illustrated version of the acclaimed essay. Helvetica and the new york city subway system on vimeo. Feb 11, 2011 how new york city subways signage evolved from a visual mess to a uniform system with helvetica triumphant.
Helvetica and the new york city subway system by paul shaw. The almost true story of nycs subway helvetica brain pickings. The mostly true story of helvetica and the new york city subway. Nov 11, 20 it is hard not to simply gush about paul shaws helvetica and the new york city subway system.
Mar 01, 2012 it is within this context that, i will argue, paul shaws helvetica and the new york city subway system should be read. How helvetica took over the subway the new york times. It was not until 1989 that helvetica finally became the subways official typeface. The mostly true story of helvetica and the new york city. How new york city subways signage evolved from a visual mess to a uniform system with helvetica triumphant. Helvetica and the new york city subway system fonts in use. Oct 01, 2017 buy on amazon helvetica and the new york city subway system by paul shaw. New yorks first subway line opened in manhattan on october 27, 1904 with 28 stations. Below are photos from shaws book that offer glimpses into the past, present, and what might have been in our subway. Helvetica and the new york city subway system goodreads. New york subways long dance with a typeface the new. The route traveled approximately nine miles from city hall north to grand central station, then west to times square and up the west side to 145th street.
The book traces the history of gothams subway through its signage. Helvetica and the new york city subway system by paul shaw duration. For years, the signs in the new york city subway system were a bewildering hodgepodge of lettering styles, sizes, shapes. Mar 30, 2007 helvetica plays such an important part in our lives that the museum of modern art in new york is celebrating its 50th anniversary by acquiring a set of the original lead type, making it the first. Today, helvetica a 1950sera typeface that has gained fame and popularity because of its versatility is the official standard in the new york city transit system. Ben rosens type and typography 1963, the principal specimen book of the day, had 17. As much a design treat as it is an exercise in understanding the. Nov 18, 2008 for more information, see paul shaws book, helvetica and the new york city subway system mit press, 2011. Dec, 2009 the book version takes into account new information and is supplemented by comprehensive notes, a bibliography and a chronology of the new york city subway system. Shaw goes mythbusting to uncover the long, storied history.
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