Get Ahead, Get a Map
Rupert: Harry Beck was a clever man. In the early 1930's he tidied up what had been a stringy mess and designed this. A classic.
Three quarters of a century on and TfL is considering what the next map might look like. Classic?
So, what makes good design? And is the tube now so complex that the earlier simplicity has been lost forever? More soon. You can see better scans here and here.
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There are a lot of details on the modern map that were not included on the original. For example overland railway interchanges, and the travel zones. But the main difference is the inclusion of a couple of overland railway lines (North London line plus one not previously included starting at Clapham Junction), and the Docklands railways.
The new TfL map is still much simpler than a true realisation of these lines, so in that sense the great step forward of Beck's map is still there.
Many years ago in Tokyo I purchased a small book describing the Tokyo Underground and surface trains ( I used it for exploring). Not only was there a Beck style map of the whole system, but each line was described with landmarks, museums etc available from each stop - and those lines (some of which were overground trains) were also shown Beck style. I did not give the fact that it was Beck style a second thought at the time.
Complain about this postHi
Interesting issue - there's a whole clump of maps here if it helps your discussion
http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/index.php?thoughtid=228
Yours
Michael Johnson
Complain about this postI wonder why the London Overground orange is not the same as the East London Line orange. Once the latter line closes I do think the map should look quite a bit better again.
One of my main issues with this map is the wheelchair symbols overcomplicating things, especially in cases when certain lines are wheelchair accessible at a station, but others aren't. I understand why they have been introduced, but I think a small symbol next to the station name (as New York uses) would have been nicer.
Or just issue a separate map for wheelchair users, just like there are maps for bike users.
The District line still seems needlessly complicated, as does the Northern one. I think these should be split in the same way the H&S and Circle have been split on the map.
The map is still much more clear than say, Paris or Tokyo, though.
Complain about this postTotally correct about disabled logos. There is no need to put in the map, they can go by the name or below.
Complain about this postI've been waiting for this new map for a few months now. It's clear that this map is no longer 'a design classic.' I've come up with a design that I think is clearer and looks a lot better. For more, please visit http://alex4d.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/a-classic-that-has-lost-its-way/
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