How the NYC subway was saved by a typeface
Since it’s initial design, the New York City subway system has gone through a number of changes and facelifts making it the vast, efficient, and sometimes intimidating transportation giant it is today. Typeface size and style can seem like a minute detail to the average person trying to successfully navigate an area, but experts say easy to read, a uniform typeface is more memorable. [cheddar.com]
Cheerleaders at train stations in Tokyo brighten up gloomy salarymen
As dejected corporate salarymen commuted to their offices in central Tokyo, three female cheerleaders — wearing red uniforms, loose socks and face shields — were dancing with big smiles in front of Shimbashi Station, saying, “We’d like to be the energy that gives you a little courage.” The “morning cheer” was carried out by members of a club who encourage commuters in front of major stations in Tokyo districts such as Shimbashi, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. [mainichi.jp]
How Peter Pennoyer designed Moynihan Train Hall’s showstopping new clock
Many have already waxed poetic about New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall, the new Manhattan transit hub which officially opened January 1. But one smaller story—that of its new Art Deco-style clock – has yet to be fully told. Designed by Peter Pennoyer Architects, the piece is bound to become an icon in its own right, as well as a frequent meeting point. [architecturaldigest.com]
Artifacts from Utah’s railroad past unearthed at Salt Lake construction site
The installation of a storm drain during construction of a new UTA maintenance and fueling facility unearthed some odd items believed to be nearly a couple of centuries old. An intact ceramic soap dish. Unbroken bottles. Items like these are being described as “midden,” meaning they are likely from a trash pile – but a jackpot for history buffs.“This is a unique discovery in a railroad yard,” said a spokesperson for the Utah Division of State History. [deseret.com]
