Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/ en-us Design Observer Group 2011-04-25T08:06:52-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0
In my opinion, no it;s not a big deal that the river was removed and may londoners may not have noticed, but the original may still may be seen as iconic or represent london heritage which is a reason for some to be upset about the change. ]]> devin0verbey http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2011-04-25T08:06:52-05:00 Jdege002 http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2011-04-20T09:17:52-05:00 njoyn005 http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2011-04-20T09:10:47-05:00 David http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-12-04T11:33:49-05:00 i buy logos http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-12-04T11:29:38-05:00
The east river is a better new york equivalent. most people that live in new york city rarely go to central park, whereas all but the manhattanites cross the east river (with its docks and boats and soaring bridges) at least twice a day. But, it would still be weird to not have the park (or the river) on the subway map here.]]> faslanyc http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-11-15T14:58:27-05:00 Kevin Blackburn http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-11-01T22:27:15-05:00
As to the question of the longevity of graphic design pieces, I'm not a graphic designer so I suspect you would know better than I, but I wonder if you could make an argument for for the current GUI systems of Windows and Mac OS (now into their third decade and, shudder, still going strong) as being designs that have achieved a certain iconographic status, not because people love them but because they know them due to ubiquity and uniformity. Two characteristics as important to achieving graphic fame as design clarity.

So when the uniformity is disrupted it becomes an issue of the identity of the system and, as Boris seems to have played it, political theatre as well. Maybe, to pick up on Daniel's point, the graphic accretions represent the information bazaar we've become lost in in recent years, but while one can turn back the clock graphically with the stroke of a mouse, doing so culturally is beyond the purview of the mapmaker.]]> Ian Baldwin http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-10-28T22:29:04-05:00 exactly like removing Central Park from a public transit map of NYC. Sure, it's not integral to the design or visual appearance of the literature, but who cares?

Central Park is just as iconic to New Yorkers as the Thames is Londoners; I've never lived in either city, but I can guarantee I'd be upset.

London's mayor was on a junket to New York? So, what, he doesn't have a cell phone? This kind of change seems like something he would at least want to know about before it takes place, not to mention have to approve. In fact, that almost seems more outrageous than removing the river from the map in the first place.

However, I'm not surprised that there's someone out there that thinks handicap access zones, fare zones, and the only internationally recognized geographical element of the city are all "clutter" on the map.

I agree that Beck's map relies on an inherently simple design; it was revolutionary, and it will remain timeless. But if information has to be removed to restore it to that state, start somewhere besides the Thames.

]]> Daniel Dirkse http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-10-14T17:44:44-05:00 Where they feel safe and sound...
"Waterloo Sunset"
The Kinks, 1967]]> Stéphane Darricau http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-10-13T12:32:03-05:00
Could not some of the ire be due to the affection held for the map itself?

Beck's design as become part of the identity of London and whilst many would not notice/object to the many incremental changes made to keep the map up-to-date, such a fundamental amendment as the removal of the river might be seen as meddling with this heritage.

It would be interesting to see if any contemporary graphic design will remain in use 60 years from now, perhaps future advances in technology and changes in the way in which we access information will make this more unlikely?]]> John Skinner http://places.designobserver.com/feature/mind-the-map/11287/#comments 2009-10-13T11:17:50-05:00