iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 03/10/2026

Are they the people who made these?

BEST stores were a bizarre architectural thing. Each had a unique design, one here that looks like it's in ruins with bricks fallen over the entrance (but just the big box with false parapet walls to create the effect.

Also another that looked like the building cracked apart at a random diagonal and one part shifted away like during an earthquake, creating a massive illusion of a jagged separation between portions of it—with primary-color and white balloons rising out of the ominous schism during an opening celebration.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 03/10/2026

Well, apparently they've finally invented cheese for men. Or these are a dishwasher tab. Hard to tell.

Babybel PRO cheese. It is in a blue wrapper instead of red, has a electrolyte drink-like lightning bolt highlights protein and probiotics.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 19/09/2026

Skimming through this journey... I spent 11 hours in that purgatory the day all the computers bluescreened. I, too, know what it's like to start finding absurd nuance in O'Hare's canned PSAs.

Malfunctioning displays showing blue screens of death in July 2024 when a security company's failed software update prevented computers from booting around the world for their clients.

Malfunctioning displays in July 2024 when a security company's failed software update prevented computers from booting around the world for their clients.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 02/09/2026

Such a cromulent roulette wheel, Bally's!

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 01/09/2026

I mean, a little Meatloaf makes everything better.

Link to random recipe for recently deceased theatre icon Tim Curry with headline: "Tim Curry's 5-ingredient chicken recipe is worth remembering."

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 27/07/2026

So many cult-classic vibes in this moment.

A glowing, wide-eyed Mr. Burns from an earlier Simpsons episode where he is thought to be a terrifying green alien who says "I bring you love" but he's just messed up and radioactive. Also looks a lot like Mitch McConnell in green light, looking creepy but benevolent, but actually being an extremely evil, plotting person who harms people without remorse.

A magnet someone designed showing the terrifying green algae/seaweed-flecked creature Old Gregg from The Mighty Boosh asking if you love him. Actually kinda benign, but super ick.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 05/07/2026

"Only in New York" they always say. 🙄 Who're you gonna call? 🤷‍♂️

Pink sprites over Wrigley Field in Chicago

Pink sprites over midtown Manhattan in New York

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 29/05/2026

Controversial question: Worst buildings in Chicago? (Submissions of brutalism will be summarily dismissed.) I'll start.

A probably-condo building in the West Loop that got as finished as the main structure and incredibly stupid horse statues on the roof before the 2008 economic/real estate crash and sat abandoned for like ten years.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 12/04/2026

Tonight I had the strange urge to have Ritz crackers with some duck patê and then thought "I don't have cornichons but I /do/ have pickle dip. So I guess I invented upper Midwest charcuterie tonight. 🤷‍♂️

Plucky pickle dip, a packet of Ritz crackers and a half-eaten trapezoid of "mousse de foie de canard au porto" (pork and duck liver mousse).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 06/04/2026

Also if I'm fortunate enough to be on long haul flight, I take meticulous care to make my main cabin meal extra fancy looking and get a cute picture of it because I like to pretend I'm on PanAm in the 70s or something.

Very neatly zhooshed-up premium economy long-haul meal.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 06/04/2026

Is true. Here are some ridiculously luscuous things I'm very fortunate to be able to have consumed from a recent visit to see friends in London.

Brown bread, butter and beer (plus something else I forget).

A perfectly silky yolk in a black pudding Scotch egg at a pub in East London.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 12/03/2026

Dress for the regional rail service you want.

Socks that match the seat pattern (moquette) on London's Elizabeth Line service.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/02/2026

Weird. What *is* going on? I've seen low quality air on my little Nest screen a few times this winter but like... Are we having fires somewhere?

A screenshot from Accuweather showing air quality. It's between poor and unhealthy around Lake Michigan (all adjacent states, like Wisconsin) and across southern Michigan and northern Illinois, and pushing east around the lake system into Toronto. There are also hotspots in the northeast like eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and NYC, as well as a mass of poor air in the southeast including western Tennessee, Alabama, and presumably into Georgia (covered by the legend).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 13/02/2026

So, they spun around the southeast side before coming up here and I was just looking it up myself. Almost wonder if it's a training mission, since it spun around multiple areas rather than beelining somewhere? But here is the apparent origin:

A FlightRadar24 map showing an unidentifiable helicopter hovering around Uptown/Edgewater/Lakeview after coming from west of the river, past downtown, over the Dan Ryan and Skyway and then spinning loops around South Shore and South Chicago neighborhoods, after starting from a site just south of the Calumet River.

Origin site appears, per Google Maps, the Chicago Police and Cook County Helicopter Task Force.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 12/02/2026

We’ve also done something similar with bus stop signs, creating a hierarchy of information that’s consistent across all signs—instead of a blend of plain text wherever it fit, new bus stop signs follow this order: route badge, route name, direction, general span of service and then map.

A modern 65 Grand bus stop sign with the information hierarchy of route identification, direction, span of service and map.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 12/02/2026

New station signs, which often used long English text only. In the past several years, starting w/my predecessor, Graham Garfield, we’ve worked to simplify text/use pictograms to help readability. We've also implemented a bright "Out" patch to for when you step off a train to find the nearest exit.

A sign at an auxiliary, rotogate exit direct to Clark St at Clark/Lake. It features negative space, the bright "Out" patch, the proper noun "Clark St" and pictograms to indicate no bikes, strollers or heavy luggage as it's a "narrow exit" (also noted in text).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 12/02/2026

I’ve been meaning for a while to talk about this... I’m proud that with my team at work that we’ve been working to simplify signage for accessibility and internationalization, including using fewer, simpler terms, applying a predictable information hierarchy and using pictograms where possible.

A simplified exit sign at a new RPM station (Argyle), that uses plenty of negative space to make the sign more readable without breaking stride, featuring the bright "Out" patch, and the simplest possible text for readability and internationalization: "Argyle St, north side" and a pictogram of a bus (language agnostic) and the word "Buses" for those who can't perceive pictograms.

A modern-style 92 Foster bus stop sign that has information in a consistent hierarchy that's being applied all bus stop signs we produce today (route number and name, direction and destination and span of service, then a map if it is able to fit--typically on single-route signs).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 09/01/2026

In not-terrible news today I've been sort of redecorating my flat and made this derivative mid-century modern art as I lean into that as a style. Sure, I pay for a personal Adobe license, but the print and frame probably cost me $20.

A series of odd shapes and warm colors with some stripes across it and a grainy watercolor on rough paper effect applied. It's hung above a bookshelf with a cylindrical lamp, some shiny objects and a boxy 60s-looking clock.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 19/12/2025

Sometimes if you wave at just the right time, they'll toot-toot at you!

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 11/12/2025

Now I want lamb. I think I have some in my drop-in freezer. Def happening tomorrow if so. lol That said, this curried lamb with pomegranate arils is also one of my favorite things in the universe, from Dishoom, in London (closest to me in this pic). Highly recommended if you can find a recipe!

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 11/12/2025

Oh that shouldn't be so hard to find! Wild. There's always that dark little jar somewhere with the bright green dye, no? That said, I just got some mint jelly by my friend Dawn in London and it's incredible. I buy a jar of that and like 15 other things every year when I visit friends. So good.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 08/12/2025

Why is it that every time I open this app it destroys my mood? Here is a picture of my grandma's mid-century modern china in a hutch I just bought from Wayfair so it's not in storage anymore that makes me happy.

Porcelain china mugs, plates and bowls with sparks of blue and grey

The china hutch before I decided the glassware for drinks should be in the hutch because the other thing, found in an alley, couldn't fit the serving platter.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 30/11/2025

Just gonna readily admit I sometimes take inspiration in my professoonal art from London in the most cheeky ways.

A Ventra Pride Card with neon ad text and a sparkling disco ball (though with triangular mirror tiles and Chicago star-based sparkles).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 27/11/2025

Oh I didn't realize I could only do four. Here are more.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 27/11/2025

A bit of Berlin station name signs (in their many tile-surrounded typefaces).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 20/11/2025

As per tradition, London, I have a prawn and mayo sandwich and cloudy apple juice for the Lizzy Line ride in and have dressed properly for the occasion of my arrival in you.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 01/11/2025

Transit is freedom. Transit makes Chicago great. It is for everyone and it is beautiful. 32 years ago today I boarded at this spot on the Pulaski Orange Line platform with my legally blind mom to help her learn her new, faster way to work on its first weekday. 'L'ove at first ride.

An evening photo of the Loop-bound platform at Pulaski Orange, just south of the south heat shelter.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 03/10/2025

Got a gorgeous night shot of a train going overhead at Schiller (which used to have a stop here!) on the Brown Line with, though no longer the outside tracks in use, the four-track infrastructure they originally built from Wilson to Chicago before heading with two tracks into the Loop 'L' in 1900.

The blur of an elevated train on a long-exposure shot with the Sears tower in the distance between the in-use and disused trackless outside track infrastructure at Schiller near Sedgwick.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 30/09/2025

I love when one of my favorite people on the Internet—like patron saint level—surprise me by wearing a T-shirt with the logo I'm responsible for making sure we use right! @techconnectify.bsky.social

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 27/09/2025

When you're lucky enough, you find yourself sitting on a pier after a warm and lovely night with family, in silence except the water lapping on the shore, reflecting on your life, your experiences and knowing all those things make you you—a beautiful little spark in this unimaginably large universe.

A long exposure image of the night sky from Sturgeon Bay, WI, where among innumerous stars you can see the haze of the more distant clustered disc that our galaxy revolves around and why we call it "the milky way."

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 25/09/2025

Goodbye Chicago, for a couple days! Going to spend a weekend with family up in crunchy Door County as we do every year. Such a pretty day here, tho.

A perfect, verdant day overlooking uptown with a cerulean Lake Michigan in the distance under beautiful blue skies.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 21/09/2025

I didn't design this but am proud to have sorta art-directed & that we have these as an option for a farecard, adding to our library of inclusiveness, putting Black and brown and trans folks first as part of acknowledging everyone. Thanks to Steve Wallach and our graphics team for bringing it home!

A Ventra card with the V pattern that starts with Black and brown and trans pride colors before shifting into classic pride colors, putting symbols of marginalized people first, even within the queer community.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 17/09/2025

ANYWAY, this is another example of why and how much I love the work I do and see it as a privilege because I know it’s making Chicago—and in some cases other cities when people borrow from our ideas as inspiration—better places to live, work and play through good public transit!

An image of other recent work we've done, with the new Damen infill station on the Lake Street Elevated (Green Line service) with elegant, simple, easy-to-read signage that uses negative space and a consistent information hierarchy so people can find their way between paths at decision points without breaking stride. Less really is more in spaces where people are trying to keep moving!

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 17/09/2025

To his credit, Graham really did the heavy lifting getting these worked into the architecture, the project, find the right vendor and make these exemplar stations. It's really a major achievement I'm proud to just have been part of the team.

The amazing and hilarious Graham Garfield hugging one of the screens he made happen in this project that I became a canvas I could build on his vision and add my own UX sensibilities to for what we're both super proud to have brought to Chicagoans and hope to expand!

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

One of the things in UI/UX designers in transit is that we’re all trying to solve a lot of the same problems and it’s WONDERFUL when we can get together, talk shop, share ideas and frustrations and constructively approach our challenges together. We all have the same goal—help the people.

Me in a CTA high-vis vest helping at an event to show appreciation to our riders with historic railcars--because when I'm not working, I'm volunteering.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

This year we finally got into the final design and development phase and I think we’ve done something really special here. Three screens in each of the new RPM station entrances (Lawrence to Bryn Mawr), that give status, alerts and elevator info right from the web, which is our best source of truth.

Three screens at Argyle, one showing system status, another showing elevator outages, another showing service alerts.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

One learned experience in London was when I breezed past an ESUB even though it had a notice about my route and I thought “well, this is really my only option and not suspended” without stopping but should've. So when something big people we added warning banners you can’t miss something that's big.

A screen at Leytonstone station on the London Underground indicating delays on the Central line, which serves this station, that led to me having to wait for a second train because the first was too full. Thankfully not too long a wait, but I wasn't prepared for that at the time by not paying more attention to the details.

A screen in our digital info lab showing the "Stop!" warning banner for when this station has a line (in this case Clinton, outside our office), having major delays or a disruption.

A screenshot of what shows that step-free access may be limited or unavailable at this station based on that it is configured for a station that has one or more elevators down.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

Though we started this design and thought process five years ago, we’ve watched closely as other cities have leaned into digital information—New York City Subway, DC Metro, LA Metro, MBTA and others, and have been refining our strategy with what we believe are all the best-in-class ideas from peers.

Newer New York City Subway digital signs showing arrivals, alerts and a system map as it operated at that time.

A digital sign in the New York City Subway showing a service alert.

A sign on DC Metro (WMATA) showing a map of the system with a service change alert at the top describing part of the system having a shuttle service on the Red Line.

A singular platform screen on the New York City Subway showing arrival information and service alerts on a combined layout.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

So years ago, before this became more common in New York, building on work we did at 95th/Dan Ryan when it was redone in 2019, where we created airline departure board-like screens with the dual-terminal with 26 bus stops, we from that, started brainstorming what we wanted to do.

Two screens at 95th/Dan Ryan designed in the mid-20-teens, one to show scheduled train departures and alerts for all routes serving the station and another showing all bus departures and what stop letter(s) they depart from.

Airline departure boards at London Heathrow (LHR) that show flight details and, as they manage crowds in limited gate space, whether or not to go to your gate.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

I was in love with this concept the first time I saw it and have watched it grow and develop to be better and better. Once it used to list each line, now it consolidates information to just show where there’s an issue and otherwise says “Good service on all lines” (or other lines). Great innovation.

An older London ESUB that lists each line individually with a "good service" message to the right implying the whole system is fine, and showing an analog clock and some accessibility info below.

A modern London ESUB showing "Good service on all lines" with step-free access alerts cycling below that message (accessibility/elevator status) before the gateline at Leytonstone station.

A modern London ESUB showing issues with the London Overground and the District and Jubilee Underground lines and good service on all other lines with accessibility information cycling below before the gateline.

A London ESUB showing issues on multiple lines with a person who'd stopped and was pointing at that the Piccadilly line had a partial closure while entering with a friend at Leytonstone station on the Central line (indicating people really have learned to pay attention to these).

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

Obviously, a big inspiration here is what Transport for London calls the “ESUB” which is their “Electronic Service Update Board” that tells you status the Underground/Overground/Lizzy network, so you can see what’s happening before tapping to enter, acknowledging people don’t like breaking stride.

A London Underground "ESUB" showing delays across the Northern line but good service elsewhere at the Leytonstone station on the Central line.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 15/09/2025

Long but hopefully fulfilling transit nerd thread incoming: I want to talk about that I’m super proud of, and which is a culmination of things we’ve done in the past as well as things I’ve seen elsewhere that I wanted to bring home to Chicago: New digital at RPM stations that we hope to expand!

An image showing the entrance to the new Argyle Red Line station with three screens, one showing normal service on all elevated lines, one showing a few elevator outages among the massive number CTA has across the system, and one showing any active or upcoming service alerts in place of paper alerts as a person enters the turnstiles. Arrival information is also showing overhead.

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Tony Coppoletta @tonycoppoletta.com · 14/09/2025

This time we opted for pizza instead of the big tray of mostaccioli.

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