MA thesis project at the Universität für angewandte Kunst, Vienna
supervisor: Prof. Tino Erben (the graphic designer of the Vienna Underground signage system)

published in „So oder auch anders”, Böhlau Verlag, Wien – Köln – Weimar, 2001 ISBN 3-205-99275-X

The most important thing one have to know, that the underground system in Budapest was built in the 60s and 70s. The ruling power was the USSR, which enourmosly influenced also the underground architecture and so the signage system, too. The stations had also a second function: to protect the inhabitants in case of nuclear war. That’s why there is only one exit at several stations and the trains are travelling very deep under the surface.

In the last 30 years, the signage system was never integrated in the structure of the stations, the signs were hung up later, without any concept and logical consideration.

So I had to adapt my new signage program into an existing architecture where no place was reserved for signs and there was no possibility to colorcode the buildings or furnitures.

The signage system has the following functions
1 Passengers have to find the stations entrance on the street, then in the station building they have to be able to easily orientate.

2 After finishing the journey, passengers have to be informed where they can find the exits and which streets and changes they can access.

Clear logical structure
The users are able to interpret the signs in seconds (even from moving trains), since the signs contain only travel information. There is only one exception: toilettes.
Other services available in the building are on separate signs to prevent confusion.

Standardized signs are easy to produce
I developed an exact sytem with dimensions and proportions in order to easily expand and modify the signs.

Strictly different look from advertisements
Since you find ads in every corner, the signs were designed to look striking and to be able to indetify easily.

download the complete diploma project (in German)
download a summary (in English)