Colors
Use only the brand color palette plus our blue/silver gradient unless necessary (i.e. skin, hair, pets etc).
Use no more than one shade of a color. Shadow preferred over highlight.
For more complex shading, use the blue/silver gradient, varying the position. This gives a clean, interesting metallic effect.
Perspective
Isometric at 30° / 150°.
Characters
Keep them as simplified as possible, no more than one digit (thumb) and no faces.
A combination of a gradients and one shadow work well for clothing.
The “Swoop”
The “swoop” should never interfere with the design. Instead, it should be an extension of the design, cradling the MTA logo or images.
Do:
Let the content breathe — make sure there is enough space between the edges of the swoop and any copy/logos that may be present.
Play with the size of the swoop, catering to the present design.
Don’t:
Create an aggressive slope — the slope of the swoop should be comforting, not a roller coaster.
Overlay the swoop on top of another graphic element; the swoop should support the content.