Politecnico di Milano Dipartimento INDACO Dottorato di ricerca in Disegno Industriale e Comunicazione Multimediale XXI ciclo THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAPS Graphic elements and design operations in the representation of urban navigation systems Tesi di dottorato di José Allard Tutor: prof. Giovanni Baule Relatore: prof. Valeria Bucchetti Coordinatore: prof. Ezio Manzini The [mapmaker] does much more than design in the graphic sense. He/she selects, generalizes, and researches, but in the end he must put his material and determinations into graphic form. It is in this disciplinary aspect that the smallest strides have been done. The ability to gather and reproduce data has far outstripped our ability to present it. (Robinson, 1952) Motivations Information design can be defined as the art and science of making complex information and instructions easy to read, understand and use, through visual elements. It is practiced by graphic designers, usability experts, and language simplification specialists. Information design can dramatically improve people’s relationship with public services through user-friendly documents and systems. Effective information design can enhance the efficiency with which these services are run, improve the uptake of services, and help to create a positive relationship between service suppliers and service users (Walker et alt. 2007). Although Information Design is a relatively new term, the aim to increases civic participation by making the experience clearer, more understandable, easier to accomplish and trust worthier, is not new. William Playfair and his Commercial & Political Atlas (1786), Otto Neurath’s Isotype system (1936) and Richard Saul Wurman’s “Understanding USA” (2000) are just paradigmatic cases, in which dense information was translated into graphic solutions easier to understand and use. They converted profound governmental research and statistics into a picture narrative and resolved the drama of social interpretation: making complex topics clear. Government and public services have a responsibility to remove the barriers for participation in civic life. This includes making the tools of participation (i.e. surveys, forms, web sites, informational publications, wayfinding systems) easy for every citizen to use and understand, especially in areas such as Elections, Emergency an Evacuation, Immigration, Travel and Transportation, Universal Design, Medical Information, Wage and Salary Reporting. Today’s Governments and public policies are increasingly faced with more complex and ambiguous issues. Traditionally, organizations and systems have been designed for a complicated rather than a complex world. Although some conventional design solutions still provide suitable answer to the increment of informational variables, in many circumstances they are not effective handling high levels of complexity. For this reason, many long standing institutions are now struggling to adapt to a more complex world (Burns et alt. 2006). Information design can significantly assist the explanation of complex issues, trends and decisions, therefore today’s scenario presents many challenges and opportunities for this discipline (Wurman, 1990). THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAPS JOSÉ ALLARD | 2009 Abstract Public Transport Maps are probably one of the most common forms of graphic communication (Avelar, 2002) and certainly one of the most recognizable cartographic items in the world (Ovenden, 2005). They are present in most developed urban areas and help million of users to navigate through their cities every day. Public Transport Maps have become effective visual tools for communicating spatial concepts and presenting navigation information –such as routes direction, transport modes, stations, connections, landmarks, etc.– through a particular graphic language and design techniques. Designers’ recognition and control over this language and techniques not only affects the visual characteristic of the map and the users interaction with the network, but also their interpretation of the city and other contextual conditions. Perhaps, for these reasons -and despite several attempts from computer science and transport authorities to automatize and normalize their construction- the design of most Public Transport Maps still relays on designers’ criteria. The following thesis presents the main design issues regarding the conceptualization and graphic construction of Public Transport Maps through several case studies. It pretends to identify the different aspects and elements that should be considered in their design and how they are graphically represented. The first part of this thesis introduces and contextualizes Public Transport Maps as a complex communication artifact through two emblematic cases: London’s Underground map and New York’s subway diagram. Afterwards, it looks at the main conditions that shape their design, such as the transport system, the user, the context and the mapmaker. The second part examines the elements, attributes and graphic operations commonly symbolized by mapmakers worldwide, through a comprehensive survey of international cases. It also establishes an analytical framework based on cartographic and typographic principles that may support design processes of Public Transport Maps and further studies on the subject. The third part presents insights regarding the construction of Public Transport Maps and compiles guidelines and recommendations for those involved in this process. It finally synthesize above observations reviewing the design process of a Public Transport map recently developed. This thesis pretends to support mapmakers in their graphic decisions and make a contribution to the current multidisciplinary discussion on the field, from the point of view of a practicing designer. THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAPS JOSÉ ALLARD | 2009 Index Motivations Abstract 1.Public Transport Maps 01 1.1 Introduction 01 1.2 State of the Art 04 2.Two paradigmatic Cases. 21 2.1 A brief history of Public Transport Maps 21 2.2 Case 1: The London Underground Diagram 23 2.3 Case 2: New York Subway Map 40 2.4 Two Relevant Questions. 52 3. International Survey of Public Transport Maps 53 4. What Public Transport Maps should represent 57 4.1 Transport System 57 4.2 Users and their Information Needs 62 4.3 Context 68 5. Map’s Design Elements 73 5.1 The Design Of Public Transport Maps 73 5.2 Map’s Design Elements 73 5.3 Maps Attributes 74 5.4 Map Levels 76 5.5 Graphic Framework for Public Transport Maps 77 6. Attributes and Graphic Variables in Public Transport Maps 79 6.1 Structural Level 79 6.2 Graphic Level 85 6.3 Typographic Level 91 7. Generalization: Main Graphic Operations in the Design of Public Transport Maps 103 8. Design Recommendations 111 9. A Problematic Case: Santiago’s new Public Transport Map 125 10. Conclusions 137 Bibliography 141 Annex 153 THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAPS pag. 8 JOSÉ ALLARD | 2009 Chapter 1 Public Transport Maps 1.1 INTRODUCTION Public transportation plays a crucial role in providing mobility to general public and ensuring that people have access to the opportunities that exist within their communities (Cain, 2007). A public transport system should provide equal opportunities for mobility and participation in public life. People should be able to have access to the city as a whole and to choose of whether to use public transport or not. The democratic view of the transportation system offers new participation and competence in the public transport organization, making the system continually useful for all users (Avelar, 2006). Transport’s success in providing mobility depends on people knowing that such services exist and understanding how to use them. While transit marketing focuses on making people aware of available services, transport information systems should focus on providing people with the information they need to effectively use the network. Good passenger information is an essential ingredient of a successful public transport system: ill informed travelers may not be able to identify services which best suit their needs, leading to poor perceptions and low use of public transport (Balcombe, 2004). Public Transportation information systems make use of diverse types of information media. This range goes from “traditional” information aids, such as maps, timetables and bus signage, to electronic options like Internet trip planners and real-time information displays. Each information aid has its own strengths and weaknesses, and most transport agencies use a combination to cater to different customer needs and preferences. (Cain, 2007) Information needs and information media preferences vary tremendously in relation to the type of trip being undertaken and the personal characteristics and experience of each traveler. The following table shows a wide range of different information aids available. DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRANSIT INFORMATION AID MEDIA GENRE MEDIA TYPE MEDIA STYLE DESCRIPTION / EXAMPLES Printed Info. Material Hand-held printed info. Passive System maps, route maps, ride guides, schedules /Timetables Static printed info. Passive Static signage at bus stops, transfer centers and elsewhere Verbal Instruction Face-to-face communication Interactive Receiving instructions from transit staff, other passengers, friends / family Manned call center Interactive Receiving instruction from transit staff via phone Automated call center Passive/Active/Interactive Automated instructions via phone PA Systems Active Verbal messages at station/transfer center,