Freelance writer, with particular interests in the philosophy of mind and graphic design. Teacher of English as a second language, lecturer, and language usage consultant. Based in London, England.
This web site contains a number of essays, and details of my published writings - including with my new book, the first instalment of my multi-volume history of the New York City subway map, being published in December 2012.
Profile photo by Christoph Mueller.
Vignelli: Transit Maps by Peter B. Lloyd, in collaboration with Mark Ovenden
Published by RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press,
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY, USA
ISBN 978-1-933360-62-1, December 2012
128 pp, 9"x12", richly illustrated in colour
US$34.99 (10% pre-pub. discount promo. code "Fall2012")
Purchase here: ritpress.rit.edu/publications/books/vignelli-transit-maps.html
The first in-depth study of Massimo Vignelli’s contribution to the design of transit maps.
The eminent designer Massimo Vignelli is well known for half a century of leading-edge design work with his wife, Lella Vignelli. Among his high-visibility creations are the logotypes for Bloomingdales and American Airlines.
In 1972, Vignelli designed a striking new map for the New York City subway, which became immensely popular but also highly controversial. After seven years, it was replaced by a map in the geographic style, which the Transit Authority used as their standard for the next three decades. In 2008 and 2011, however, Vignelli’s team reworked the map, which was then adopted on the MTA’s web site.
This is the first in-depth study of Massimo Vignelli’s contribution to transit maps, which examines in detail both the creation of the original 1972 map, and its re-creation in 2008 and 2011. The book also covers Vignelli’s designs for the maps of the Metro in Washington, DC, and the RER in Paris. It includes previously unpublished materials from the Vignelli Archives.
"For a long time New York communication culture has been afflicted by a fragmentation disease, where verbal rather than visual information has had the priority. When I had the assign¬ment of designing the New York subway map, that was the situation: fragmentation. In any case the map was done and it turned out to be beautiful but nevertheless short-lived. In 1979 it was replaced, and this book investigates its history, revealing interesting details about its demise. This book is also an oppor¬tun¬ity to celebrate the work done a long time ago by my collabo¬rators at Unimark and that done by my associates more recently." Massimo Vignelli, Vignelli Associates
"In Peter Lloyd’s thoroughly documented book, he uncovers the history of the Vignelli map and of the people who created and promoted this New York icon–as well as the people who hastened its demise. He explores in fascinating detail Vignelli’s dealings with the MTA when he was a principal at Unimark, the prestigious international design agency that won the commission to redesign the subway system signage and map. This book’s profiles of the diverse players, illuminating their contributions and conflicting philosophies, is invaluable for students of information design. Lloyd shows, for the first time, early development sketches of the famed map and of its recent successors. Rarely seen and graphically intriguing map studies, created by Unimark for the then brand-new Washington, DC, Metro are a valuable addition as well." Eddie Jabbour, Kick Design, Inc
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1. Thinking Matter If your brain can be conscious, why can't your chair? What light does Frank Jackson's Black and White Mary throw on the nature of consciousness?
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2. Cyborg Experience What is it like to be a cyborg? What would you feel if your brain cells were to be replaced, one by one, with electronic devices? Does this thought-experiment provided solid support for materialism? |
All material in this web site copyright © 2012 Peter B Lloyd.