For example, If it was the Zócalo Metro (Today Zócalo-Tenochtitlán), it is because when the stairs climb, that historical square was located; Or if we talk about the Verdes Indian station – which, by the way, it was recently proposed work by artist Alejandro Casarín Salinaswho attended the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 representing Mexico.
«Wyman not only created logos and signsbut also a whole communication system. His merit is that he designed something very complex, Starting from pop art to a different and radical proposal Faced with what was done in Mexico at that time. For example, the use of Mexican pink color, which he remembers that they asked him why he used a tone that was considered that it was for girls, ”he says Pilar Garcíacurator of the monographic sample Round. Lance Wyman: Urban icons, exhibited in the MUAC between 2014 and 2015.
All lines have different iconographies.Oliver Santana / Courtesy Muac.
Colors and other trends
The orange color was chosen More for commitment, because trains were acquired from a French company that manufactured them in that way. As the tone corresponded to the institutional color of the city of those years they left like this, without reasons of graphic design behind. Today, trends and sociocultural context – in place of printed magazines or newspapers, users travel absorbed in their Tiktok stories or in their WhatsApp messages – are evidently different from those of those years. Illiteracy was reduced from those fearsome numbers, to a still serious 4.7 % reported in 2000, according to INEGI. However, the need remains the same: have well identified the stations of the capital metropolisthrough simple visual language. In such a way that, looking sideways, the person can identify the silhouette of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, and find out that he is reaching the Hidalgo Metro.
“Under Wyman's supervision, it was determined that colors and symbols would occur after historical investigation. Finally, It was possible to create a communication system not only of the stations, but of the signs, exits and descents and also a visual distinction abroad. Today, that urban imagery is still present, ”said Pilar García.
To date there are 195 stations distributed in 12 different colors that represent the 12 existing lines: pink, blue, olive green, cyan, yellow, red, orange, green, coffee, purple, green with gray and gold. All, marked with the emblematic design that has transcended the time, and that has made space.