Partners: Transport for London

Transport for London has kept London and its inhabitants on the move since the nineteenth century.  As we move closer to the Olympics next year, Transport for London is taking the opportunity of looking at the organisation's history of signage design.   The Underground Roundel is one of the most iconic symbols of London.  Originally appearing in 1908 the red disk and blue bar was standardised as part of Frank Pick's vision for a corporate design vocabulary for the Underground system after the First World War. Edward Johnston was the creator of the typeface that is still used across all TfL signage and written material and later adapted the Underground station signs into the "bullseye" design which has evolved into the Roundel logo we see today.  About a decade later it was the architect Charles Holden who then further developed the sign into an architectural silhouette roundel, as part of the expansion of the tube during the late 1920s and 1930s. 

During LDF 2011 TfL will launch a range of bespoke tube, railway and street signs, which can be bought and personalised by the public. A competition will also be run for the duration of the Festival on www.tfl.gov.uk/shop to win a sign.  Talks on the history of signage at both the V&A and London Transport Museum will run on the 19^th and 20^th September respectively.  Iconic signs will be on show at the V&A, Tent London and Design Junction during LDF.