Automated Signage for Stops
Developing an innovative, scalable, and fully automated signage product for Moscow’s public transit system was a significant professional undertaking. By guiding a multidisciplinary team of developers, analysts, and designers, I led the conceptualisation, design, development, and implementation of this solution. My approach was based on comprehensive analytics results and user surveys, ensuring that the product met the needs of the transit system and its passengers.
In-House at
Moscow Metro
Years
2020–2022
Location
Tram and bus stops in Moscow
Scope
Strategising, Product Management, Design Team Lead
Status
Implemented
Background
Moscow has two main transportation companies:
- Mosgortrans, which operated both the city’s buses and trams,
- Moscow Metro, which operated the metro system but in 2020 took over the tram system.
This transfer highlighted the need for a comprehensive solution to provide up-to-date information at tram and bus stops, as they shared similar shelter designs.
The Challenge
With over 10,000 bus and tram stops scattered across Moscow and approximately 10–20% of the network experiencing monthly changes, manually designing signage for each stop was not only daunting and impractical but borderline impossible. The existing system suffered from enormous delays in updating signage and information about routes and timetables, with some stops lacking any detailed information altogether.
The sheer volume of updates and scale of the problem required a completely new solution that could keep up with the dynamic nature of the city’s transit system. Automating the design process seemed to be the only viable solution, so we embarked on a journey to create a fully automated signage format for tram and bus stops.
The sheer volume of updates and scale of the problem required a completely new solution that could keep up with the dynamic nature of the city’s transit system. Automating the design process seemed to be the only viable solution, so we embarked on a journey to create a fully automated signage format for tram and bus stops.
First Concept
Process and Approach
Core Requirements and Design Approach
We analyzed passenger feedback and conducted UX research to identify the key questions passengers needed answered by the information at the stops:
We analyzed passenger feedback and conducted UX research to identify the key questions passengers needed answered by the information at the stops:
- Where can I go from this stop?
- On what route?
- When?
Our solution had to answer these questions while being fully automatable. We decided on a format that included line diagrams with timetables.
Designing a prototype
Data-Driven Design
Our approach was deeply rooted in analytics. We analyzed all possible combinations of routes, stop names, transfer options, and timetables. The design accounted for various factors, such as line diagram types for different route variations, possible abbreviations for parts of long stop names, transfer information, and different hour display options (departure times or headways).
This data-driven method led to creating an extensive list of rules for our design generator to follow, and helped us shape our modular approach to the design.
This data-driven method led to creating an extensive list of rules for our design generator to follow, and helped us shape our modular approach to the design.
Modular Design
For our product to be able to display information about any route in the existing network, after thorough and deep analysis, we decided each route would get a dedicated block of one of three sizes, arranged on a sheet in a modular manner.
The height for each of the three block options is fixed, which allows for:
For our product to be able to display information about any route in the existing network, after thorough and deep analysis, we decided each route would get a dedicated block of one of three sizes, arranged on a sheet in a modular manner.
The height for each of the three block options is fixed, which allows for:
- Predicting the size of the block for any route based on the number of its stops and different schedules.
- Predicting the overall sheet layout and number of required posters for any given stop in the city based on (1).
- Displaying up to 6 routes on a single sheet.
On the left: Modular blocks of size 1 and 1.5 could conveniently display 98.4% of the routes in the city. For the remainder we had a huge block size 2. On the right: analytics results for various types of schedules.
Design Requirements
Line Diagram
- Comprehensive Display: The line diagram needed to display all stops on the route to avoid any confusion and ensure consistency.
- Transfer Options: Stop names should indicate transfer options for other transport modes, using the visual language and pictograms of the city’s wayfinding system.
- Consistency: The line diagram design should align with similar diagrams from the Metro for overall system consistency.
e85 route line diagram (generated with automation)
Timetable
We decided that a template for any route schedule should be the same regardless of operating hours. This approach ensures:
We decided that a template for any route schedule should be the same regardless of operating hours. This approach ensures:
- Comparability: Users can quickly compare the same hours on different route schedules.
- Predictability: Passengers can form a habit of expecting certain hours in specific positions, making the signage easier to read.
Route timetable rules for generator
Integration and Automation
The product was integrated as a module into the in-house software used by both Mosgortrans and Moscow Metro for route management, scheduling, task tracking, and infrastructure maintenance.
This integration allowed us to source data directly from the software’s database, ensuring that the generated designs were always up-to-date. However, to ensure reliable data transformation into design, we extensively normalised and formatted consistently the the database's contents, and developed scripting workarounds where needed.
The process of generating layouts goes through the following stages:
This integration allowed us to source data directly from the software’s database, ensuring that the generated designs were always up-to-date. However, to ensure reliable data transformation into design, we extensively normalised and formatted consistently the the database's contents, and developed scripting workarounds where needed.
The process of generating layouts goes through the following stages:
- The user inputs the IDs of the stops to generate layouts for them and chooses the output file format.
- The layouts are generated using scripts and HTML/CSS in .svg.
- Using the Adobe Illustrator API, the layouts are converted to .pdf, colour mode set to CMYK, and all the elements are outlined for print.
- The generated print-ready layouts can be previewed by the user and exported to their device.
The templates in use allow displaying diagrams and timetables for every route and stop in Moscow.
Printing and Installation
Production and Ease of Use
We formulated key requirements for the production and installation of the new signage:
We formulated key requirements for the production and installation of the new signage:
- Speed and Cost-Efficiency: It should be fast, easy, and cost-effective to produce.
- Ease of Installation: It should be easy and quick to install and replace.
New Structure Design
The existing information lightbox at the stops only allowed for a huge poster to be placed inside, which was long and hard to replace. We collaborated with the Department of Transportation “Magistral” team to conceptualise and design a new structure with holders for smaller posters, called “pockets.” These pockets allowed for easier replacement. The sheets were printed on plastic material to softly diffuse the backlight inside the lightbox.
The existing information lightbox at the stops only allowed for a huge poster to be placed inside, which was long and hard to replace. We collaborated with the Department of Transportation “Magistral” team to conceptualise and design a new structure with holders for smaller posters, called “pockets.” These pockets allowed for easier replacement. The sheets were printed on plastic material to softly diffuse the backlight inside the lightbox.
Lightbox with new "pockets"
Pockets initial prototype testing and installation
Testing
User Surveys and Feedback
We tested the new signage at 30 tram stops in the city centre. During testing, passengers were extensively surveyed, leading to several improvements:
We tested the new signage at 30 tram stops in the city centre. During testing, passengers were extensively surveyed, leading to several improvements:
- Font Size: Increased font size for stop names on the line diagram based on user feedback.
- Optimal Placement: Determined the best placement for the signage poster within the pockets for readability.
Installation Pipeline Improvements
During testing, another critical aspect for large-scale implementation was heavily examined: the printing and installation pipeline. As a result, we established a detailed procedure for handing out materials for print, wrote a comprehensive user-friendly instruction manual, and added a service information part to the design, helping installers quickly identify which poster needed to be placed at each stop and into which “pocket.”
During testing, another critical aspect for large-scale implementation was heavily examined: the printing and installation pipeline. As a result, we established a detailed procedure for handing out materials for print, wrote a comprehensive user-friendly instruction manual, and added a service information part to the design, helping installers quickly identify which poster needed to be placed at each stop and into which “pocket.”
Installation of a temporary test version
Testing legibility in poor lightning conditions
A service information part for installers: rules for generator
Launch: first phase
The successful implementation at 200 stops marked a significant milestone. The automated signage product proved its value by providing timely and accurate information to passengers while drastically reducing the workload for designers. Upon full deployment, the project is expected to save an estimated 7 years’ worth of designer man-hours annually, ensuring up-to-date information at every stop and significantly improving the efficiency of the city’s transit system.
This project showcased the power of innovative thinking, effective collaboration, and user-centric design. The automated signage solution not only improved the daily lives of thousands of commuters but also demonstrated the importance of integrating technology and human insights to create scalable, efficient solutions.
This project showcased the power of innovative thinking, effective collaboration, and user-centric design. The automated signage solution not only improved the daily lives of thousands of commuters but also demonstrated the importance of integrating technology and human insights to create scalable, efficient solutions.
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What I discovered was absolutely crucial for the project implementation. The service information part we added because of it helped drastically reduce the mistakes in signage placement for our new format to almost zero, and the instructions I prepared were praised by the installers and their management.