Decoding Manhattan

Decoding Manhattan unveils a unique view of the island through more than 250 diagrams, maps, cross-sections, flowcharts, cartoons, infographics, and visual explorations that reveal the systems, quirks, history, and human life behind one of the world's most fascinating urban landscapes.

Created by designer and architect Antonis Antoniou and graphic design authority Steven Heller, this visually rich collection gathers 150 years of graphic interpretations of New York City. Legendary illustrators including Saul Steinberg, Maira Kalman, Christoph Niemann, Roz Chast, and Milton Glaser appear alongside lesser-known visual storytellers, creating an extraordinary portrait of Manhattan through information design and graphic art

From skyscrapers and subways to neighborhoods, landmarks, architecture, and everyday urban life, each spread offers a fresh perspective on how the city works and how New Yorkers experience it.

Equal parts design inspiration, cultural history, urban studies, and visual entertainment, Decoding Manhattan is an essential volume for lovers of New York City, graphic design, architecture, cartography, and information visualization.

“The graphics in this book add rich layers to our understanding of Manhattan.” ―Fast Company

Antonis Antoniou is a designer, architect, researcher, and author specializing in visual storytelling, cartography, and information design. He is the coauthor of A Map of the World: The World According to Illustrators and Storytellers and other acclaimed visual books that explore culture, place, and identity through graphics and mapping. Through his work, Antoniou investigates how design can transform complex information into engaging visual narratives. He lives and works in Spain and Cyprus.

Steven Heller is one of the world's foremost authorities on graphic design, illustration, typography, and visual culture. The author or editor of more than 180 books, he has written extensively about design history and contemporary visual communication. A recipient of the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Design Mind, Heller has helped generations of designers understand the power of visual storytelling and information design. He lives in New York City.