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You can also view some artifacts in our Digital archives: https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=vignelli%20wmata 

MTA Arts & Design and MoMA are pleased to unveil the newly installed exhibit, The Subway: Design for a Modern Icon, at the 5 Av/53 St Station (E/M). Retracing the timeline from the mid-1960s to today, it celebrates the historic connection between the MTA and MoMA, two of New York City’s most iconic institutions. Panels along the downtown platform present a dynamic visual display highlighting the graphic design of the subway system, created by Unimark International in the 1970s, headed by designers Massimo Vignelli and Bob Noorda. Curated by MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design and designed by MoMA Design Studio, this exhibit illustrates a fascinating history to riders who navigate the MTA system each day, especially those who use it to reach MoMA.

Happy 50th to the Vignelli NYC Subway map! The map was released 50 years and one day ago on August 4, 1972. Although it was only used by the NYCTA for a few years, it has become an iconic design. When it was replaced in 1978, the Cooper Union held a heated debate over the Vignelli map and its replacement. Sadly, the process work for designing this map is not in the archives, but we do have some rough sketches for layouts for the Design: Vignelli book by Vignelli and Michael Bierut. We also have Stan Ries’ photographs from the heated debate. Scroll through to see more artifacts from the archives to celebrate a half century since this map was released! Industrial Design Magazine [October 1972] published a glowing review of the then brand-new map titled “Straphanger’s guide: The New York City subway map is the light at the end of the tunnel” “Almost any revision of the New York City Transit Authority’s subway map would be clearly an improvement. However, the 1972 goes far beyond mere revision. The new map is not only well organized and color-coded, it has better typography–it is, in a word, readable.” “Designed by Unimark International¬–Massimo Vignelli was in charge of the project and worked with Joan Charysyn and Norbert Oehler–in cooperation and conjunction with Leonard Ingalls, Director of Public Information & Community Relations for the T.A. The map is offset printed n three sizes–for stations, trains, and pocket sized–by Diamond International Corporation.” –B.A.G.” Want more? Listen to Peter B. Lloyd tell the story of the subway map on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/NAMq1MgA-i4 Listen to the Cooper Union recording of the debate which was recently digitized: https://greathallvoices.cooper.edu/Detail/programs/1086 Read “Vignelli Transit Maps” By Mark Overdon and Peter B. Lloyd https://www.rit.edu/press/vignelli-transit-maps Read “The New York Subway Map Debate” edited by Gary Hustwit, photos by Stan Ries, and forward by Paula Sher https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/new-products/subwaydebate

We recently uncovered this mockup pasted on a board for a sickness bag for American Airlines in the archives. We couldn’t resist showing it off along with some of the other ephemera we have for the airlines corporate identity. Massimo Vignelli designed the American Airlines corporate identity while at Unimark International in 1967. Sadly, they abandoned the system in 2013 after nearly 40 years. Luckily we have lots of examples of the original design in the archives! Image descriptions: Printed pasteup of an American Airlines sick bag on a black board. Large red American title type across the top. Text in navy blue lower case sans-serif type says “for motion discomfort/para mareo.” With smaller nonsensical placeholder text in navy blue reads “ing surprising in their in an age domain” Vintage 35mm slide of two American Airlines ticket envelopes. Back view in navy blue which first says “American” in white type above a a front view of a red envelope with white border along bottom that has American Airlines logotype in red and blue next to text that “Jet Express Ticket.” Matchbook with double A and eagle logo for American Airlines. Timetable for from 1968 for American Airlines with rows of clocks on the cover showing every half hour. In 1968, you didn't need this flight timetable according to American Airlines if you were flying from Chicago to NYC, because there was a nonstop flight every 30 minutes! Cover of a brochure white background with back text that says “If you don’t like our menu, change it!” above an outline illustration of a fork, knife and spoon. The spoon has the double A with an eagle logo in red and blue. Cover of a folded map with the American Airlines logotype in red and blue and the title “Directions” in black text below it. Illustration features blue circles on a red background with various colored pointing arrows, one in each circle pointing in different directions. Cover of an American Airlines Annual report for 1969. White background text in red and blue and a large double A and eagle logo in red and blue. Sketch of a 1971 American Airlines Annual Report with large slanting logotype and double A and eagle logo in red and blue. Pencil grid in background.

Enjoy these digitized vintage 35mm slides from the Unimark International records from the archives. The bottles and packaging are also on display in our galleries which are temporarily closed due to Covid-19. Once we are open again, the very brave can visit the archives and smell this 50+ year old cologne for themselves. Do you think cologne ages like wine?

Great Western United office interiors 35mm slides Massimo and Lella Vignelli papers Vignelli Center for Design Studies Rochester, New York

Great Western United 1969 Report Massimo and Lella Vignelli papers Vignelli Center for Design Studies Rochester, New York