The design was so influential it inspired maps for New York and Sydney, and a variation of his design is still being used today.
A successful test run of 500 copies were printed in 1932, and by 1933, the map had been produced as a pocket map with 750,000 copies printed, and he continued to redefine the design until 1959. However, he later resubmitted his design and it was accepted. His design was considered so radical it was initially rejected. Beck said of his idea “Looking at the old map of the railways, it occurred to me that it might be possible to tidy it up by straightening the lines, experimenting with diagonals and evening out the distances between stations.” By 1931, years of growth resulted in the London Underground network being too complex for a normal map, and the legibility has been likened to a bowl of spaghetti. Harry Beck began redesigning the Underground Map in his spare time in 1931. The map is not a geographically accurate map it is a diagram or plan, but the decision to design it like this meant it was much simpler to read and so drastically improved travellers’ ability to navigate the complex tube routes. London Transport Museum director Sam Mullins said ‘Beck’s map was revolutionary in its simplicity. I chose Harry Beck’s London Underground Map because it is an iconic piece of information design and is a key part of London’s identity.
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