Lecturer calls London Underground map design 'garbage', creates viral 'circles and spokes' alternative

[KeyboardKitty]

Image: Dr Maxwell Roberts/ Tube Map Central

 

Dr Maxwell Roberts, a psychology lecturer at the University of Essex, has boldly challenged the iconic London Underground map with a new circular design. Replacing the familiar straight lines, it offers a fresh perspective on navigating the city's labyrinthine Tube system.

 

The lecturer has been developing this concept since 2013, with an initial circular design centered on Tottenham Court Road. However, his latest iteration, featuring Oxford Circus at its core, has generated significant public interest. Within 24 hours of its online debut, the redesign garnered over a million engagements, a response that even surprised its creator.

Dr Roberts' circular redesign is a stark departure from the linear approach pioneered by Harry Beck's 1933 map. Beck's groundbreaking work transformed the complex Underground network into a simplified diagram, prioritizing clarity and efficiency over geographic accuracy through its use of straight lines and 45-degree angles. In contrast, Dr Roberts' "circles and spokes" employs a more intuitive approach, centering on Oxford Circus and visually representing the 11 Tube lines with color-coded circles. Unlike the current map, his design offers a more accurate geographic representation of stations.

 

Dr Roberts hasn't held back in his criticism of the existing TfL Tube map, describing it as "lamentable for all sorts of reasons" and even a "garbage piece of lazy design." He argues that it lacks "balance, simplicity, coherence, and topographical accuracy," making it difficult for users to navigate the Tube efficiently.

 

The public’s reaction has been largely positive, with many praising the new design for its clarity and aesthetic appeal.Transport for London (TfL), however, remains steadfast in its support for the existing map, emphasizing its effectiveness for millions of daily commuters.

 

While TfL champions the enduring appeal of Beck's original map, the enthusiasm for Roberts' innovative design suggests a growing appetite for for new approaches in urban navigation. What are your thoughts? Should iconic designs remain untouched, or should they evolve to meet the demands of a changing city?

 

• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/14/tube-map-gets-circular-redesign-maxwell-roberts/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9843r0dz3go
• https://www.londonworld.com/news/tfl-tube-map-lecturer-circles-spokes-redesign-viral-4742226
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/round-circles-back-again-updating-my-london-spokes-map-roberts-dbfpe/

 

[Guest Digital-Alchemist]

Accurate perhaps but completely illegible.

 

Usability is a key factor in a busy, fast moving situation.

 

The current map works inside the train’s long narrow space, visible from much of the carriage without needing to move from your seat.

 

This new design would take up an entire window and encourage crowding in order to read.

 

With respect to Dr Roberts, accuracy doesn’t override UX design - he’s spent 11 years on a redesign that is complicated ‘garbage’.