Tube Map Variations & Homages

Harry Beck’s London Underground map is a seminal piece of design, rightly considered the map which all transport diagrams are held to. Recently the Tube Map has become the go-to diagram to remix and reinterpret a whole host of information, with Simon Patterson’s The Great Bear in 1992 kicking off a flurry of remixes shown below.

Where possible, I have included high-resolution versions as an archive. Please note: these are not the actual Tube maps which are available on the Transport for London maps page and they are not reinterpretations of the actual Tube map.

The Great Bear – Simon Patterson, 1992

Tube Music – Dorian Lynskey, 2006

Royal Shakespeare Company – Kit Grover & Hester Lees-Jeffries 2007

(All change at Lady Macbeth)

Underground Film Map – Film London and the BFI London Film Festival

The Underground Film Map is for sale from TfL.

Step-Free London Underground Map

I’ve discussed my series of maps called Accessible Transit which removes stations which are not accessible, including systems such as the London Underground, London Overground, New York City Subway. Maps represent corporeal objects, through convenient fictions – a representation which works for a majority of its users. But where are the maps for the disabled or those require additional accessibility? Wouldn’t the mother with newborn in stroller need a different map then those without the need to lug all the accoutrement’s of childhood? Equally, those in a wheelchair require a map different then one which the walking can use. I decided to rectify the situation by editing the maps of major metropolitan transportation systems, in order to create a map for those who are not represented on the official map.

It has come to my attention that Transport for London has a Step Free Tube Guide which illustrates stations where it is possible to get between the platform and street step-free, or change between lines step-free. Stations where this is not possible are shown in a light grey which is nice, but utterly incomprehensible.

Accessible Transit: London Overground

This is the fourth installment of my Accessible Transit Map series. Intended as a replacement map for those with disabilities, this map illustrates which station stops on the Transport for London London Overground system is accessible for those with strollers or with a disability.

London Overground, a suburban rail network in the United Kingdom, is part of the National Rail network linking 20 of London’s 32 boroughs. Starting in 2007 Transport for London consolidated different existing rail concessions and extended new trackage to form the London Overground.

As in previous maps, I have removed all stations which are not handicapped accessible. Maps represent corporeal objects, through convenient fictions – a representation which works for a majority of its users. But where are the maps for the disabled or those require additional accessibility? Wouldn’t the mother with newborn in stroller need a different map then those without the need to lug all the accoutrement’s of childhood? Equally, those in a wheelchair require a map different then one which the walking can use. I decided to rectify the situation by editing the maps of major metropolitan transportation systems, in order to create a map for those who are not represented on the official map.