The Revitalist

Current NYC subway map on left. Redesign by Eddie Jabbour on right.

Sticking with the information design theme, Signal vs. Noise has a nice post on the design of subway maps. Should they accurately show the location of lines and stations with respect to the street grid? Or should they be graphically simplified for easy reading and use? The designers all agree that by trying to satisfy both, you  ultimately compromise the usefulness of the map. The comments point out the benefits of both styles and suggest that there is a time and place for each. Plus, people have contributed links to other maps, including the newly designed MBTA map that gives you both perspectives as tabs for easy comparison.

Also, a nice NY Times article about the design process.