Around the Way is a regular series highlighting a handful of interesting articles about environmental design, wayfinding or information design. If you’d like to suggest an article for future inclusion, please get in touch!

Slate Magazine’s Signage & Wayfinding Series

Link: The Secret Language of Signs

If you’ve been on or around the interwebs in the past couple weeks, you’ve no doubt seen or heard about this one. Julia Turner, Slate Magazine’s deputy editor, has put together a great series on the effectiveness of signs and better ways to navigate. If you haven’t given them a read, head over and check it out. Be sure to check out the video of Julia and designer David Gibson investigating New York’s Penn Station: http://www.slatev.com/video/wayfinders-guide-penn-station/

Hidden History in the Paris Métro

Link: History dans le Metro

Recent renovations in some Paris Metro stations revealed mid-century ads and posters that were just covered up and left during construction in the 60s. Pretty amazing to read about some of the stuff that was found. This article over at AIGA tells about the discovery and shows some of the posters and things. If you’re a fan of the Paris Metro like me you might find it interesting!

GOOD Magazine’s 10 Ways to Become the Designer You Want To Be

Links: 10 Steps to Becoming the Designer You Want to Be & 10 More Steps to Becoming the Designer You Want to Be

As part of GOOD Magazine’s partnership with frog design’s publication Design Mind, designer Laura Seargeant Richardson shares 10 steps (and 10 more) to stay inspired and grow as a designer. Whether you are a creative fresh out of school or a seasoned professional, these steps are great motivation for anyone. I especially enjoyed #6: create a new idea every day. Some great stuff.

Milton Glaser Awarded National Medal of Arts

Links: Glaser Gets Award from Obama, Glaser on Art and Obama & President Obama Presents National Medals of Arts & Humanities

Last month legendary designer Milton Glaser became the first graphic designer in history to be awarded the National Medal of Arts by the President for his contributions to communication and graphic arts. Author Steven Heller gives a quick write up of the event over on The Daily Heller. Congratulations to Mr. Glaser, it couldn’t have been given to a more deserving gentleman. The video of the entire ceremony can be seen over at whitehouse.gov.

idsgn Interviews Paul Shaw About The (Mostly) True History of Helvetica and the NYC Subway

Link: Design Discussions: Paul Shaw and the NYC Subway

Skylar over at idsgn recently sat down with designer and historian Paul Shaw to discuss his book Helvetica and the New York Subway System: The True (Maybe) Story. Mr. Shaw talks about the research that went into writing the original essay for AIGA Voice and the further discoveries that led to turning it into a book. Pretty interesting story that sheds some light on the confusing use of Helvetica (or lack thereof) in the New York Subway System.

That’s it for this edition of Around the Way, I hope you take the time to check out some of these great articles. If you really enjoy one or want to suggest an article for the next post, please leave your feedback in the comments!