New York City Transit Authority: Graphics Standards Manual

The NYCTA Graphics Standards Manual contains scans of Massimo Vignelli and Bob Noorda's (Unimark) modernist masterpiece.

The manual describes the design and construction for the iconic NYC subway signs that we still see and use today, but above all it’s a beautiful and important piece of design history.

Copyright

1970 New York City Transit Authority Graphics Standards Manual
© New York City Transit Authority.

Compact edition, first printing.
Published by Standards Manual, LLC
© New York City Transit Authority.

First published in 2014 as a full-size reissue by Standards Manual, LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on behalf of the New York City Transit Authority.

All images of the Graphics Standards Manual contained in this publication have been scanned from the private collection of Massimo & Lella Vignelli, generously provided by their son, Luca Vignelli.

About the type

NYCTA Standard Medium was designed by Nick Sherman in 2014 specifically for this book. Scanned samples of the Graphics Standards Manual contained in this publication were used as the basis of the redrawing. Letter spacing, kerning, and the quirks of Standard Medium were all retained and precisely match those specified in the Manual.