The original subway design was for a system as a whole, with a unified look based on continuity of design above and below ground and consistent typographical use. Had the TTC cared about - or even been aware of - their own design heritage they could still have maintained a coherent look after vitrolite was no longer available by retrofitting their properties while also expanded the system with new stations. The huge orders for materials would have allowed for economy of both scale and price. What we've got now is a system based on discontinuity, the bizarre idea that users require each station to reflect what's above it, a group of rich benefactors cherrypicking a few stations here and there to make-over, a second tier of probably less flamboyant makeovers for other stations, and a public that gets the idea that design is about interior decorating rather than being a problem-solving process to make the system work better.