Whenever I go to the Transit museum I’m always impressed at how the NYC Subways have managed to become their own brand. How the design of signage, maps, stations and cars have become an art-form and a source of pride for New York City and the people that work in the subways. Now that brand is lending itself to other brands. Gothamist displays that the 42nd St. Shuttle will have an ad-wrapped subway pushing the History Channel. Advertising is ubiquitous on the subways, but lately, the MTA has helped advertisers develop ads that simply will not allow riders to avert their eyes. First it was cars that were taken over with one, sometimes clever ad that continues throughout the car. Now we will be walking in and sitting on the advertising, unable to take our eyes off of it.
An ad-wrapped car just feels different from regular old advertising. Maybe it’s simply the novelty of the experience, which would admittedly be very cool, but I doubt very much that riders will appreciate the same kind of in-your-face style when being sold shampoo or storage space. We’ll see, I guess.
