Failed to Launch

Some designers look at things like charts, graphs, tables, and maps and cringe in horror. For some reason, we've always been intrigued by the design of information. Perhaps it has to do with our brief sojourn at MetaDesign with Erik Spiekermann, who for years harangued the BVG, Berlin's public transport system, about the quality of their passenger information before the fall of the Wall finally forced them to do something about it. Overnight, two systems – East and West – became one, and the massive project of redesigning system maps, timetables, signage and all other forms of passenger information fell to Erik and Meta.

Years later, after a good bit of haranguing on our part, we were given the opportunity to reconsider the design of passenger information for Dublin Bus. Using a Local Area Guide for South Dublin as a prototype, we established a new design framework for timetables, route maps, and local area focal maps. Unfortunately, the new design never left the depot – 30,000 were printed but never distributed. Now, even a good few years later, we still stand by the quality of the design work, recognize however that we didn't have the skills to shepherd all our big ideas across the divide in opinions at Dublin Bus.