If you've ever traveled to a big city that is unfamiliar to you, it's likely that you've encountered the challenge of reading complicated and unintelligible subway maps in a bid to figure out how to get to where you need to be.
To combat this, French-Serbian architect Jug Cerovic has taken it upon himself to standardize subway maps from big cities around the world with INAT, a project that aims to unify global subway and metro networks by creating maps that are easy to read and memorize.
Cerovic's subway maps enlarge city centers, making room for crowded clusters of lines and connecting stations. All the maps feature a standard set of symbols including different-colored lines, stations, connections and station labeling. Jerky, snaking lines are shelved in favor of vertical, horizontal or 45-degree lines with no more than 5 bends on their entire length.
The text on all these subway maps is available in both English characters and local scripts, as well as in an array of prints ranging from pocket-sized maps to larger charts for public display.
Photo Credits: designboom, inat.fr
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Standardized Subway Maps
- The trend of standardized subway maps creates opportunities for streamlined navigation and improved user experience.
- Global Subway Network Unification
- The trend of unifying global subway networks through standardized maps presents opportunities for enhanced connectivity and travel efficiency.
- Accessible Multilingual Subway Maps
- The trend of creating multilingual subway maps with local scripts and prints in various sizes opens up accessibility for diverse users.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Transportation
- The transportation industry can leverage standardized subway maps to improve commuter experience and optimize route planning.
- Architecture and Design
- The architecture and design industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities in creating user-friendly and visually appealing subway maps.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- The tourism and hospitality industry can utilize standardized subway maps as a tool to assist tourists in navigating unfamiliar cities and enhancing their travel experiences.
