Ajooma

I recently went to the London Transport Museum, located in the heart of Covent Garden. It’s a large exhibition space with lots to see, but a little bit on the pricey side.

As a graphic designer, the London Underground map, designed by Henry Beck in 1933 was a paradigm shift in the visualization of subway maps. Beck was an engineering draughtsman at the London Underground Signals Office when he came with the design, and the similarities to a circuit board is undeniable. His system of conveying relationships between stops and connections, eschewing geographic distance has become the blueprint for subway & train maps the world over. It was exciting for me to see the many interations and development of such a famous design. Also of interest was the actual logo, designed by Edward Johnson, so also designed the typeface used through the underground. There is something magical about seeing work in progress or the beginning stages of something you see everyday. It’s even more amazing when it’s a work of art you admire so much. The campaign posters through the years are also a delight. Over the years they have had quite a few famous names working for TFL, but even the everyday ones are pretty nice. I particularly like this one advertising the theater.

The end bit was a bit funny to me. It cacentrated on the future of TFL, and in a weird prophesy corner had a timeline of London at least 1000 years in to the future.