NYC Subway Font
An experimental set of letterforms constructed from the geometry of the new NYC subway map.
Designed in Advanced Graphic Design: Ad Hoc Series and Systems with Julian Bittiner.
Typeface Design
Visual demonstration of the creation of letterforms from the new subway map.
As a city enthusiast and longtime railfan, I used the redesigned NYC subway map as a guide to create an experimental, modular typeface.
The redesigned, Vignelli-esque NYC subway map uses rectilinear strokes to represent the sprawling transit system. This project explores the intersection of heavy infrastructure and typography — I treated the map not just as a navigational tool, but as a grid of potential letterforms by isolating specific junctions to build an alphabet that celebrates the visual language of the MTA.
Letter “A” stylized with colors and bullets consistent with the colors and bullets in the new subway map.
The letterforms remain strictly faithful to the logic of the subway’s layout.
To maintain the diagrammatic feel of the source material, I ensured that strokes terminate exactly where subway stops are located. The curves follow the map's specific 45 and 90-degree angles, and the line weight stays consistent with the thickness used in the official wayfinding system.
Set of three posters spelling out “M,” “T,” “A” using letterforms from the NYC subway font and featuring memorable quotes from subway riders on Reddit.Two posters featuring “NEW YORK CITY” spelled out using letterforms from the subway typeface.
To ensure utility across posters and signage, I designed the system with flexibility in mind.
Each letterform includes two variants — one condensed and one extended. This variable width system allows for better space efficiency and visual hierarchy when designing for the chaotic, dense environment of New York City advertising.
Letterforms “A” — “D”
Letterforms “D” — “G”
Letterforms “H” — “K”
Letterforms “K” — “O”
Letterforms “O” — “S”
Letterforms “S” — “V”
Letterforms “W” — “Z”
Letterform “Z”
I pitched this typeface to the MTA during the rollout of their new map. I’m still waiting on a response, but for now, these letters remain the only part of the subway running on-time.
Next Project: Crew Dog
I’m a graphic designer and student at Yale (’26)
I’m a graphic designer and student at Yale (‘26) focusing on typography, motion graphics, and design systems. My practice is rooted in a deep respect for art history and craft. Before studying design, I practiced traditional blackletter calligraphy, a practice that continues to inform my approach to typography and lettering.
I have gained professional experience designing for artists such as Jeffrey Gibson, Mickalene Thomas, and Joel Mesler, and for arts institutions including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and JOOPITER. I have also interned for Irma Boom Office, Mickalene Thomas Studio, and Hyperallergic.
In an increasingly automated design industry, I believe the human touch is a designer’s most valuable tool. Whether through hand-drawn calligraphy, organic shapes, or tactile print designs, I strive to imbue my work with a distinct sense of humanity that distinguishes it from the algorithmic and the artificial.
I’m currently seeking a full-time role and always interested in freelance work.