2011 was a big year for this blog, with more visits than I ever could have dreamed. As you may have guessed, I’m a bit of a geek, so let’s crunch some numbers, courtesy of Google Analytics.
U.S. Routes as a Subway Map
Dec 17, ’11
8:19 PM
At long last, I present the latest in my series of transit map-styled designs. This time, we have the U.S. Highway system (that’s U.S. Routes, not to be confused with the newer Interstate Highway system – which as most of you well know, I have already mapped).
New Side Project: Transit Maps Tumblr
Nov 2, ’11
1:17 PM
Well, it had to happen. I’ve set up a new Tumblr where I discuss, critique and celebrate transit maps from around the world – be they official or unofficial, fantasy or real, from the past, present or future. I’ve already got a great selection up and there’s a lot more to come. Head on over to take a look, and follow me or reblog my stuff if you like what you see!
Washington Metro Diagram: My Last Word
Oct 3, ’11
9:00 PM
This is it. My final take on a redesigned Washington, D.C. Metro Map. This is my third major revision of a project that began in February of last year, and won the People’s Choice Award in the Greater Greater Washington “Redesign the Metro Map” contest earlier this year. I’ve taken time away from this diagram to work on a few other projects recently, but the release of Lance Wyman’s draft diagram has inspired me to finish an “ultimate” version of my vision of the diagram.
Thoughts on the Draft WMATA Diagram
Sep 20, ’11
1:27 PM
The first draft of the newly-designed Lance Wyman Washington DC Metro diagram has been out for a while now, and people have had a lot to say about it – some good and some bad. As I’ve stated before, any changes to this venerable institution were only ever going to be gradual, and this draft definitely shows that as it takes the tiniest of baby steps away from its original look.
10 Tips for Great Photos From a Plane
Sep 16, ’11
3:21 PM
Whenever I fly, I try to get the window seat. I just love seeing the world go by, reduced to the size of a map far, far below me. And if I have a camera with me, then things are even better, because I love to take photos of the amazing sights I see. Here’s a few tips that I’ve picked up that might help out, followed by a number of photos that I’ve taken after the jump.
How To Design a Transit Diagram
Aug 30, ’11
7:18 PM
One thing I often get asked regarding my transit diagrams is how I go about actually creating them. Originally, I just jumped right in and pushed things around on a page in Illustrator until it looked okay. These days, I’m far more organised, meticulous and precise with my work and I think it shows in the quality of my diagrams. Here’s a few tips and tricks that I live by when working on them:
Historical Passenger Rail of Portland, Oregon
Aug 29, ’11
9:17 PM
Somewhat related to my previous post, here’s a new transit map of Portland for your perusal. This piece was born out of two things – a friendly after-work chat with the immensely talented Ryan Sullivan of Paste In Place, where we discussed a concept similar to this; and a chance discovery of a high-resolution scan of a 1943 streetcar/trolley map on the amazing Vintage Oregon site.
Rail Transit of Portland, Oregon
Aug 16, ’11
2:34 PM
Here’s a new transit diagram that I’ve been working on for a while now – a unified rail transit map for the place I live, Portland, Oregon. Portland is blessed with fantastic public transportation, but I’ve always felt that the official TriMet system diagram fails to fully show this, even after its recent redesign.
Edward Tufte: And I thought I hated PowerPoint…
Jun 22, ’11
9:57 PM
Today I had the absolute pleasure of attending Edward Tufte’s full-day course, Presenting Data and Information. For those who aren’t aware of Edward’s work, he is one of the foremost experts on data visualization in the world today. His books on the subject matter are amazing – beautifully illustrated and typeset and with concise, intelligent text that delves deep into the subject. If your work involves visualizing data in any way – graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, you name it – then I would definitely recommend any of his books on the subject matter and this course.