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Located: essays >
the underground map
London Underground map: where
Contents: who
| what | where
| when | how
| why
The map was
designed by Beck at home (Last, 1987). It is important to consider
this in the context of his passion for creating the perfect map, and
the knowledge that his relationship with London Underground over the
map was at times difficult (Last, 1987).
Also important was the environment at London
Underground at the time, which was design and functionally focussed
primarily because of the drive of publicity head Frank Pick (Green,
1990).
Pick was the stimulus behind the Underground's poster campaign,
the distinctive typography, architecture drive and the push for
a more user-friendly and functional service. Said design historian
Adrian Forty: "Pick was very concerned to present the Underground
as rational, scientific and efficient." (Last, 1987).
Much of Pick's work appeared to influence others in London at the
time - the special typeface designed for London Underground by commissioned
calligrapher Edward Johnston in 1916 sparked a revival in typography
in England, and Pick became the first chairman of the Council for
Arts and Industry in 1934 and in doing so continued to push for
a marriage between design and industry (Open University, 1973).
Pick's poster campaign influenced companies such as the General
Post Office, the Empire Marketing Board and Shell Oil Company, who
all developed corporate poster advertising following London Underground's
lead. (Green, 1990).
In this environment, where functionality
and user-friendliness were considered important, it was likely Beck
was also influenced.
  
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Doug Green © 2000 - site last updated 7 October 2000 