This week’s ‘culture’ day out could potentially have me criticised as being a bit of a Geeky McGeekface from Geeksville – but in fact, the topic in question is interesting as it focuses on something that all Londoners, and anyone who has ever visited London, will all have seen and taken for granted, and not even given a second thought to – but in fact there is a history (and a science) behind what is an instantly globally recognised symbol………..and that is the Tube “Roundel”.
The roundel was the brainchild of Frank Pick who had worked his way up through the ranks to the level of Managing Director of London Underground in the 1920s and the first Chief Executive of London Transport. Frank Pick (1878-1941) has had more influence on the look of twentieth-century London than any other individual.
In 1913, to make the Underground Group’s posters and signage more distinctive, Frank Pick commissioned an Edward Johnston, to design a clear new typeface, instructing him to produce a lettering that would ensure that the Underground Group’s posters would not be mistaken for advertisements – giving Johnston a brief that his end product should have “bold simplicity”. This typeface would also need to be applied to all station signage.
Edward Johnston, was the son of Scottish settlers, was born in 1872 on their remote ranch in the province of San José, Uruguay. The family returned to England when Johnston was three years old. He was a creative child, whose hobby was the copying of texts in the manner of a mediaeval manuscript, which developed into him working for the British Museum where he was encouraged to study Roman and Renaissance lettering – and this led him to make a career out of designing various lettering styles.
Frank Pick also asked Johnston to redesign the trademarks for the Underground Group including The Bullseye logo which Frank Pick had first initiated in 1908. Johnston refined this to the now familiar branding of the bar and circle (known as a ‘roundel’) we still see today and which is recognised the world over.
The Johnston typeface/font, was so successful that, with only minor modifications in recent years, it is still in use today.
An adapted version of the roundel is now prominent at bus stops – the London overground stations, and the river taxi services.
Frank Pick oversaw what is now acknowledged to be transport design’s golden age. He commissioned some of the most recognisable icons of London Underground’s identity such as the distinctive red, blue and white ‘roundel’ Tube logo – its font/ typeface – the Harry Beck Tube Map and the art deco architecture of many Underground stations designed by Charles Holden.
With the assistance of my 60+Oyster Travel Card, my quest today was to photograph some of the more interesting ‘roundels’ in situ and on display throughout this great City – which I hope you find interesting
The 1914 mosaic roundel – at Maida Vale station
A 1908 station name, adapted to a roundel – on display at Covent Garden
A 1930’s roundel signage at Temple station
Another old roundel on display at Temple station
This is interesting…….Harrow-on-the-Hill is the ONLY roundel throughout the entire tube network, where a reduced font size has been used (for the ‘on-the’). For all other stations with long names such as Gt Portland Street and Kensington High Street – the name is displayed in the standard font/typeface size
A 1933 roundel on display at Aldgate East station
A 1930’s roundel prominently displayed at Leicester Square station
Here’s another interesting one – Heathrow is the ONLY roundel to display numbers. Not only that – it’s actually incorrect, as Terminal 1 no longer exists as it was decommissioned a couple of years back
Similarly – Heathrow is the only station to have a non-station name roundel on display
I know I’m gonna sound like a right geek here, but the West Brompton station roundel is unique and doesn’t fully conform to the Johnston font, as the the “W” is crossed and the “E” is top heavy
The Moorgate roundel was changed to a triangular display to commemorate the London Undergrounds 150th birthday in 2013 – The triangular shape for the station name, was the original design when in was part of the Metropolitan Railway
One of the roundels on display at Fulham Broadway has been spectacularly set back into a roundel shape on the masonry.
A wonderful memorial to Frank Pick at Piccadilly Circus station – that captures his ethic of what he felt advertising signage should be
Frank Pick – the innovator of what we see on our travels throughout the Tube stations today
The platform clock at Bethnal Green station – where the numerals are replaced by roundels
A juxtaposition of old design & new design – (The Shard and London Bridge station)
An original 1930’s signage roundel at Temple station
How a cappuccino is served at the London Transport Museum – Covent Garden
After a long day on the road (well, on the trains) – a cheeky one in the way home, at The Cow, Westfield, Stratford