TTC Metropass redesign

As a daily TTC commuter, I can’t help but notice the poor design of the 2009 Metropass. Its design has been pretty poor as far back as I remember, but lately it has been getting a lot busier.

When I saw the January Adult pass, it reminded me of everything that is miserable about January in Toronto – gray skies, traffic on St. Clair, packed streetcars, unbearable cold and hospital pajamas. This mood is further reinforced by TTC through inconsistent type, bold borders, hideous out-of-place patterns, lack of a balanced grid and inconsistent spelling . You can view a collage of 2006 passes here (Warning: the link might send you into an acid-inspired haze).

My aim was to try and design a pass that is versatile, simple, can carry different messaging and mood with every month, is collectible and says something about Toronto. At the same time, any numbers of security features can be used in combination with the design: die-cuts, clear windows, pearl lamination and embossing. I also looked at information posted on the front of each pass and removed it in case it could easily live on the back of the card.

TTC has a unique identity that should not be diluted by poor typography, photography and design. Instead of resorting to glum transit photos, which look like they came from a police report, TTC should reach out to local talent for monthly pass inspiration. In my case, I tried to think about what TTC stands for (aside from fare hikes and recent crime) and what the pass gets you. In my series, I looked at 12 unique Toronto areas and highlighted a new one each month. This varied visual approach can extend to monthly illustrations, subway musician profiles, station tile art, historical TTC photos, local artists, cuisines, cultures – the possibilities are endless.

The current pass design lacks personality – it’s disappointing, given that TTC is the third most heavily-used urban mass transit system in North America. By no means this is a refined design, but merely a finger pointing in the right direction. Maybe someone at TTC will read this and try to inject some life into the $109 piece of plastic.

For inspiration I used existing TTC identity elements, TTC signage, maps and for the colour base – a 12-step color wheel. Colors from radically different swatches were applied to back-to-back months – the drivers need to identify one colour per month without confusing it with the last month’s pass. I used black and white treatment for added readability. As a font I used Toronto Subway (Bold and Regular) – a font based on the lettering originally used for TTC station identification and signage.

You can also view the Flickr set or digg this story.

Edit: My Metropass has been featured on Torontoist.

Edit: There has been an announcement by TTC on new security features with suspiciously similar ideas.

Note: Unfortunately, since it’s a bitter, gray Toronto January, the photos of the areas were sourced online. It’s nearly impossible to credit everyone for each piece. The photo for High Park was purchased on iStock. Once the weather clears up I’d like to transit around and take my own. If you are one of the photographers or have a photo you’d like to share, feel free to email me or post in the comments below.