Also, this one will serve you as a great guide when you come to Bucharest for lots of beers. Of course the diagram would prove even more valuable if even drunk we will be able to find our way to the next bar. Cant’t wait for some usability testing ><

First of all, I would like to say that you did a brilliant job. I peered at the original map and your final circular diagram for a long while, I can easily say I couldn’t find any flaws at all.

Your first try is rather thick lined (as you mentioned) and a bit harder to make a quick follow-up when needed (which is needed a lot by people who are rushing like crazy at times!). Also it would be harder to connect the future stations with the new lines and everything, as you also have mentioned.

About second diagram, it’s a good thing you tried the square ring style. The new thin lines made it look better for sure but you are right about circular ring looking better. After all, circular-centered diagram shows off a good symmetry on first look which looks way more friendlier to the eye.

On your last diagram, you nailed it. Thin lines, horizontal station names, good looking symmetric circular ring and best of all, future usability. I can already see you connecting the new orange and purple dotted lines perfectly there without any troubles.

The sole thing you are missing is background district part of the diagram, which is already on your to-do list. At first I thought it might be a bit hard to place the districts on your diagram’s background since the diagram doesn’t reflect the map geographically, which would make your districts in weird shapes. Then I checked the original map and seen the numbers (which I think are districts?). If they are the districts, then they are in great flow with the subway lines and it won’t be hard at all for you to place those background dsitricts to your diagram.

All in all, perfect, Octavian. Keep up the great work.

- Da, senzatia de spatiu gol o am si eu. Nici metroul bucurestean nu ma ajuta fiind extrem de basic . Mizez pe altceva pentru umplerea spatiului si face parte din noile “features” ale acestui proiect si anume legenda statiilor si marcarea sectoarelor in background. M-am gandit si eu ca ar fi o idee foarte buna sa echilibrez compozitia cu linia albastra ( respectiv sa o curbez ) dar nu ma grabesc sa fac asta inca. Este una din solutiile la care s-ar putea sa recurg dar ma feresc de ea pentru moment.

- La interchange stations e tricky. Eroilor se deosebeste de celelalte pentru ca nu este tocmai interchange. Acolo se intersecteaza mai multe linii dar dupa cum observi continua in aceeasi directie. Celelalte pasaje de tranzitie de la o linie la alta. Nu as putea si nici nu as vrea din punct de vedere grafic sa le unific. Eroilor este intr-adevar un pic mai departata dar exista un motiv pentru asta . ALternativa la gradienti pot face in stilul celui londonez ( adica pasaje de corespondenta albe cu border negru ). M-am ferit de acest stil pentru ca nu am vrut sa creez nota discrepanta prea mare in intreaga compozitie. Dar merita incercata.

Intr-un final vad si continuarea muncii de anul trecut

Legat de noua varianta pot spune urmatoarele lucruri:
- per general, imi da senzatia de mult spatiu gol, nefolosit. O legenda ar umple un colt, dar un rezolva in intregime problema, din punctul meu de vedere. O idee care ar rezolva problema asta ar fi sa orizontalizezi diagrama, adica linia albastra sa o duci la orizontala dupa ce iese din inel (daca tot e diagrama, si nu e relevanta directia geografica). Asta ar rezolva si problema afisarii in metrouri (eu din ce am vazut pana acuma pe dincolo, spatiul este foarte lat si ingust pe verticala, cand se afiseaza deasupra geamurilor).
- nu imi place deloc faptul ca ai gradient la “interchange stations”. Imi place cum ai facut la Eroilor (aici poti apropia numele de statie, ca e cam departe), si identic poti face la Basarab, si cred cu tarie ca similar, pe acceasi idee, le poti face si pe restul (chiar daca Unirii si Victoriei sunt mai “tricky” putin)

Eu ma bucur ca ai continuat proiectul

The difference between a diagram and a map is that a diagram does not reflect the geographical positioning ( like a map does ). It instead illustrates the relationship between the subway station

Thank you!

from the graphical point of view, it looks good, as from the “practical” point of view, I don’t like that the subway map is not respecting at all the geographical map. Let’s take the green line, as an example – it’s geographical direction is North-West, as its direction in your subway map is West.

Good luck!