London Underground : Tube map September 2009 - poster version
I'm glad I've rediscovered my copy of this design icon although I was almost tempted to post it here with a 'spot the difference' title.
The recent edition of the 'tube' map now contains many more lines and in many ways this is a godo thing from a passenger and journey options standpoint. However, the diagram is now arguably very heavily cluttered what with Thameslink, Elizabeth line, Tramlink and particularly fares zones and it does, I think, now need a radical rethink. You can stretch Beck's idea so far before even it breaks and at the end of the day utility has to be matched by clarity.
It was the idea of clarity that led to this very short lived trial version that was officially issued for a short time in September 2009 and was the outcome of various discussions at, I'm sure, Managing Director level. The most obvious thing is - no fares zones. So the diagram is very clear. The one thing that threw most folk was - no River Thames. The latter is an odd one - why have a single geograph feature on the diagram? Indeed. But oddly the River does help define north and south London so perhaps...
It was also at the time - and we are apparently back here again - were income meant the map was sponsored. This one, that I 'claimed' was the one displayed in the special frame in reception at our then marvellous HQ, 55 Broadway.
London Underground : Tube map September 2009 - poster version
I'm glad I've rediscovered my copy of this design icon although I was almost tempted to post it here with a 'spot the difference' title.
The recent edition of the 'tube' map now contains many more lines and in many ways this is a godo thing from a passenger and journey options standpoint. However, the diagram is now arguably very heavily cluttered what with Thameslink, Elizabeth line, Tramlink and particularly fares zones and it does, I think, now need a radical rethink. You can stretch Beck's idea so far before even it breaks and at the end of the day utility has to be matched by clarity.
It was the idea of clarity that led to this very short lived trial version that was officially issued for a short time in September 2009 and was the outcome of various discussions at, I'm sure, Managing Director level. The most obvious thing is - no fares zones. So the diagram is very clear. The one thing that threw most folk was - no River Thames. The latter is an odd one - why have a single geograph feature on the diagram? Indeed. But oddly the River does help define north and south London so perhaps...
It was also at the time - and we are apparently back here again - were income meant the map was sponsored. This one, that I 'claimed' was the one displayed in the special frame in reception at our then marvellous HQ, 55 Broadway.