Welcome to Milan by brtsergio
Now suppose I’m new to Milan. I’d go around down town like a tourist, the nose risen up and a slow-paced walk because that’s how you usually see a city. I’d start with a map and a guide but in the best option I would leave them in my room to get familiar with the city by myself. Still what would I need? When you’re in a big city the best and easiest way to orientate is relying on the public transports. There isn’t a more valuable model than the tube map, fact. So the symbol of the Milan Metro would be one of the first things of the city that I’d learn to recognise as I go around.
The Milan Metro graphics have been designed by Nederland-born Bob Noorda. He lives in Milan since 1957 and has been one of the key figures in italian graphic design. In 1963 he worked for Metropolitana di Milano and his work inspired Massimo Vignelli for the New York subway graphics. His project for the yet-to-be mark of the Metro still remains as a paradigm for logos. Two particulars: the arrow shape between the Ms, the second M under the first one which brings the pictogramatic idea of “subterranean”. Unfortunately the logo was never fully implemented.
Milan Metro Logo by Bob Noorda
