My parents will tell you that I memorized the entire MTA Subway Map by the time I was 4 years old. I remember spreading it out across the living room floor with my train set in hand, pretending to be the operator of each line. Something about the system was fascinating to me.

It started with an appreciation for the way the MTA alphanumerically and colorfully organized its routes based on avenue. Eventually, I found myself studying station placement decisions, line alphanumeric and color designations, how these decisions changed over time, etc. If the transit system is a product, I became infatuated with the system design methodology that influenced it.

Of course, this is all in retrospect. I think back to days when I discovered PowerPoint Presentations and became curious about layout. That’s when I really started learning about the design world.

In my downtime, you’ll find me playing guitar, taking pictures, or playing video games. Halo is a particular favorite of mine and has been for 10+ years. My gamertag is Just Izaac in case you ever want to join my lobby.