There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.
Object Timeline
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1987 |
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2016 |
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2024 |
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Poster, Prototype for New York City Subway Map
This is a Poster. It was designed by Michael Hertz Associates. It is dated 1978 and we acquired it in 1987. Its medium is offset lithograph on white wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
In the 1978 prototype, Michael Hertz Associates added New York streets and landmarks. Hertz kept Vignelli’s colors as circular bullets, but rendered all subway lines in red, which users found confusing. Later iterations, as well as today’s map, use a “trunk line” color coding system, with one color assigned to each avenue of operation.
It is credited Gift of Unknown Donor.
- Map, Worldmapper Project: Global Internet Use 1990 and 2007
- digital print on archival paper.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2012-19-1
![A large dark green road sign with a small retangular section prodruding from the top right corner, in which white text in Clearviewhwy typeface reads [EXIT 27] in capital letters. In the main section the number 56 is found in black inside a white shield, the interstate symbol, with the word [NORTH] beside it in white Clearviewhwy capitals, and [Metropolis] in white Clearviewhwy normal case beneath. In a yellow rectangle at the bottom are the words [EXIT ONLY] in black Clearviewhwy capitals, with a right facing black arrow between the words [EXIT] and [ONLY].](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/329366_f324c5f7f2464662_n.jpg "Sign, Metropolis, in ClearviewHwy® Typeface")
- Sign, Metropolis, in ClearviewHwy® Typeface
- acrylic pressure-sensitive film, 3m flexible uv ink print on 3m diamond grade....
- Gift of Donald Meeker, Meeker & Associates, Inc., and James Montalbano,....
- 2011-24-4
![Poster design showing various road signs spread across the page in red, black, yellow white and blue. Signs include a blue circle with two white connected arrows inside it, a hollow red circle with a red car and black car inside it, a yellow square with a black number 30 inside, a hollow red circle with an upwards black arrow and a downwards red arrow inside it, a red circle with a white horizontal line though it, a hollow red triangle with a black x inside it, an upside down yelow triangle outlined in black, a blue triangle outlined in red, a hollow red circle with a black letter P inside crossed through with a diagonal red line, a hollow red circle with a black right facing arrow inside crossed throuh with a red diagonal line, a hollow black square with a black cross inside, a hollow red triangle with a girl and boy holding hands printed in black inside, a hollow red circle, a yellow circle with a black diagonal line through it, and a blue circle outlined in red and with a red diagonal line through it. Included among the signs is the Ford logo which is blue and pill shaped with white writing saying [Ford]. In the lower left black text reads [Signs that say Safe Driving...]](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/65610_d26d06dd31c8fd8c_n.jpg "Poster, Signs That Say Safe Driving...")
- Poster, Signs That Say Safe Driving...
- offset lithograph on white paper.
- Gift of Marion S. Rand.
- 2002-11-9
Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- 1502, MTA.me, 2011
- Senses.1502
- Book, Expo '70 color environment
- offset lithograph with collage.
- Gift of Issac H. Godlove, Smithsonian Libraries, QC495 .E96 folio.
- 92.2016.68a,b
- Poster, New York City Subway Map
- offset lithograph on white wove paper.
- Gift of Unknown Donor.
- 1987-24-2
Its dimensions are
70.5 × 57.8 cm (27 3/4 × 22 3/4 in.)
Cite this object as
Poster, Prototype for New York City Subway Map; Designed by Michael Hertz Associates (New York, New York, USA); USA; offset lithograph on white wove paper; 70.5 × 57.8 cm (27 3/4 × 22 3/4 in.); Gift of Unknown Donor; 1987-24-1
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.
