Graphics material inside

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Volume

Of all the oversized, hardbound books I keep in house, none come close to the delight-delivering capabilities of the Standards Manual reissue of legendary Unimark designer Massimo Vignelli's 1970 MTA Graphics Standards book. The profoundly satisfying volume can absolutely be judged by its cover: a behemoth 13.5” W × 13.5" H, and in a bright, orbit orange. Inside is an absolute feast for anyone who loves design at scale, New York, or just beautiful colors, text, and coherent, iconic industrial visuals that last the test of time. 

Flipping through it, one gets the sensation of a kind of visual ASMR. The different colors and letterings used to design the look of the New York City underground showcase a quiet, subtle, eternally influential cool. Standards Manual doesn’t make the full-size any more, and the compact 10 x 10 version is sold out. That said, (A) make sure to check out their other books — like the old school NASA graphics manual or the book of National Parks visual ephemera — and (B) somehow, the official MTA store still has the OG in stock. –Foster Kamer

→ Shop: NYCT Full Size Graphics Standards Manual, $325.