Gregory's Server2/ The first version of the London Underground Map we know and love today was designed in 1931 by Henry Charles Beck.
It’s one of the most recognisable cartographic works of all time
|
10 comments
 4/ In 1931, Beck presented a prototype of a new Underground map. Interestingly, his idea was originally turned down. It was only in 1933 that the map was adopted en-masse, with a first print of about 700,000 copies. 5/ Beck's approach to depicting London's subway system prioritized user experience over geographical accuracy. He used coloured straight lines and 45-degree angles to simplify the complex map into a readable format, achieving a sparse, circuit-like layout. 6/ This shift from geographic to UX-first is shown in the following graphic, which shows the city's realignment to place zone 1 in the actual centre of the map and its expansion. Zone 1 is made to look a lot bigger than it is. 7/ The new London Underground map stuck and kickstarted a revolution in transport cartography. The methodology has been used in dozens of cities worldwide to represent their metro systems. From Boston 🇺🇸 to Buenos Aires 🇦🇷, and many more 8/ Beck's style has inspired creatives and nerds alike to create a seemingly endless list of representations and reworks. London itself has seen special maps commissioned, including Lego specials, or this recent, special map created in collaboration with Samsung, to celebrate 90 years since the launch of Beck’s map. 10/ The list of reworks of the tube map is endless. How about this one, which shows an etymologically reconstructed map of the Tube under a hypothetically extended Norman conquest? 11/ The Tube is a critical part of the London identity and the Underground map plays into this — station names are iconic and have fed into popular culture. For example London Underground-themed costume parties. Here are some fun ideas: https://londonist.com/london/transport/how-to-dress-for-a-tube-themed-party |
3/ Originally, the London Underground used a geographical map, not the topological style that Beck invented we are all used to.
There used to be a different pamphlet for each train line, and it was only in 1908 that the network’s several train lines were first plotted onto a single map.
As the network grew in scope and complexity, geographically correct maps became problematic.