Harry Beck's Underground Tube Map

Harry Beck was the designer that created the London Underground Tube map in 1931. This is one of the most Iconic designs/ maps in history, ironically Beck was not a designer. This is actually a systematic design used for mapping electrical systems. Harry Beck was actually an electrician working with the TFL. Before his proposition the maps were like bowls of spaghetti as they were in direct correlation to the maps of London. However, the Railway service was expanding further out and more stops were being added which made it much more difficult to fit and use distance as a scale reference. So they began looking for better solutions. The new map needed to fit all the new lines and stations and make it easier for the travellers to read and understand. Henry Beck looked at the electrical system maps he looked at every day and decided to try and transfer the basics into a tube map. It was not accepted by the board at first but the feedback from the customers was clear, thus it became an Icon.

[Image source - Google Images]

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