Typeface Design for the New York Times Magazine Walking Issue

From a single commission to a four-master type family

Subway 56 was originally commissioned in 2015 by art director Matt Willey for the New York Times Magazine 'Walking' issue. Its design draws on signage held in the New York Transit Museum (MTA) collection in Brooklyn. In 2022, A2-TYPE expanded the originally single-style sans into a multi-height typeface comprising four master styles: X, XX, XXX, and XXXX.

Set in Subway 56

Insights

The typeface began as a single style and was later expanded in 2022 into a multi-height typeface with four named masters: X, XX, XXX, and XXXX.
Its origins lie in a specific editorial commission, with the design influenced by historical transit signage from the New York Transit Museum collection.