When these companies were consolidated in the 1960s, a new map was created using a “Beckian grid.” Named after Harry Beck, who standardized the London Underground map using 45- and 90-degree angles, the creation was then redesigned in 1972 by Vignelli—but not without controversy.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has unveiled the first major change to the famed New York City subway map since 1979. The historic map commuters are used to seeing on subway cars and in stations across the five boroughs will be phased out in the coming weeks and replaced with the new version.