On August 12th, David Seltzer will join DAG for a presentation based on his book,Transit Tourism: The Iconic Art and Design of 22 Subways Around the World, released in 2025 by Schiffer Publishing. Transit Tourism consists of travel essays and images on the art, architecture and design of 22 subway systems located in 18 countries, giving an underground perspective on the unique character of each of these cities. The premise of the book is that the visual culture of each subway, metro, tube or u-bahn—its architecture, art installations, vehicles, map, logo, wayfinding, and even typeface—reflects the distinct personality of the city it serves.

Viewing these systems through the design lens of a “transit tourist,” one appreciates that subways are not just a means of transport—they are an indelible part of a city’s DNA, and to understand a city, you really need to understand its subway.