Schmitz – REDESIGNING THE WEB OF THE CITY 2022

Description

Authored by Benedikt Schmitz, this 7-page document (from a 2017/2018 bachelor’s thesis, updated to reflect 2021 implementation) details the redesign of Cologne’s KVB subway map. Presented in an academic paper format, it is extensively illustrated with 12 figures, including original photographs, numerous schematic map iterations, workshop sketches, and proposed signage diagrams. The work’s trustworthiness stems from its academic rigor, incorporating user interviews and expert analysis (like Maxwell Roberts’ rules). Its significance is underscored by its nomination for the Cologne Design Prize 2018 and, crucially, the real-world adoption and implementation of its core recommendations by the KVB in December 2021, making it a powerful example of research directly influencing urban infrastructure design.