LONDON.- A new exhibition, Designology, opened at London Transport Museum on 20 May 2016. The exhibition celebrates London’s internationally recognised iconography and explores the influence that thoughtful and persuasive design has had on our daily experiences of the urban environment. Immersive displays and never before seen items explore the familiarity of everyday design, while historical and contemporary design innovation is uncovered in posters from the golden age of travel. Design lovers will be able to see early and modern examples of Tube maps, while tickets and signage give visitors the chance to discover the art and aesthetics behind the functional and familiar.

The exhibition is accompanied by a wide programme of events including themed adults only Friday Lates, Talks and Late Debates, as well as a pop up design Studio - an exciting part of the exhibition space which gives visitors of all ages the chance to meet professional and student designers in residence and get involved in their work.

Architecture, graphics, industrial, product and service design are brought together to showcase the complete and integrated approach to design taken by Transport for London (TfL) and its predecessor organisations over the last century. The exhibition explores how design is encountered in our everyday journeys and how this has evolved as user needs and technology have changed, as well as looking at how our travel experiences might develop in the future. From the visual to the virtual and from Victorian engineering genius to modernist masterpieces, Designology uncovers the fascinating designs and processes behind London’s moving metropolis.

Before the digital age, posters and guidebooks were key in encouraging the use of public transport, while maps and transport operators were instrumental in assisting passengers in planning their journeys. In modern day London, sophisticated digital journey planning technology gives passengers the same information literally in the palm of their hands through the TfL Journey Planner. The exhibition explores how art and changing fashions are mirrored in the designs of different materials, from the early misconceived and often confusing timetables and guidebooks through to beautifully designed posters and maps from the last century.

Some of the objects are on display to the public for the first time, including an 1834 Shillibeer Woolwich Omnibus timetable, original architectural drawings by Charles Holden of Arnos Grove and Sudbury art deco stations, and a 1994 magnetic ticket hall station model kit. As visitors make their way through the exhibition they will begin to recognise the underlying design that surrounds them – design that is often hidden by its familiarity in everyday life.

Visitors to Designology can download the brand new London Transport Museum app, which offers exclusive content such as behind-the-scenes insights and objects which did not make the final cut for the exhibition, as well as the Museum’s full events calendar.

Pimp my Bus Stop
How do you make waiting fun? Visitors to the exhibition can get creative and design their own Bus Stop sign. Take inspiration from historical bus stops in the exhibition, or make it futuristic, before adding it to a display and sharing it on social media with the hashtag #pimpmybusstop.

Design Studio
An exciting feature of Designology is a pop up design Studio where visitors can meet professional and student designers in residence and discover more about contemporary design innovation. From textile designers who create the fabric patterns for Tube seats, to architects working on the platform design of Crossrail, the live action events offer an opportunity for visitors to meet and discuss ideas with creators for many disciplines.

The daytime Studio events are suitable for all ages and admission is included in the Museum entrance ticket. Download the free London Transport Museum app for full programme information.

Object case studies
The exhibition also includes some fascinating case studies which explore key design features on the Transport network.

New Johnston typeface
In 1915 Frank Pick commissioned the calligrapher Edward Johnston to design a clear, modern typeface for the Underground Group. The original Johnston typeface was used until the early 1980s but the traditional typesetting methods meant the lettering proportions became unsuitable for use in modern printing methods and London Transport’s publicity office found it difficult to use Johnston typeface and also produce effective marketing materials. Not only this, but the font was looking tired and old fashioned.

Throughout the 1970s there were plans to redevelop the Johnston typeface, and others were used instead. Finally, in 1979, Banks and Miles were asked to redesign the type and the job was assigned to a young Japanese designer, Eiichi Kono. Kono’s typeface became known as New Johnston, and by 1988 it comprised of nine fonts in three weights - easily adaptable for multiple purposes.

Visitors to Designology can see the original New Johnston sketches and notes on loan from Eiichi Kono’s personal collection, as well as original bromides (the 1980s photographic printing technology replacing the wooden printing block) from London Transport Museum’s collection.

Moquette fabric design
Moquette, the durable upholstery fabric used on London’s Underground and buses, has become a design icon due to the unusual, vibrant patterns in which it is made. The woollen pile has good thermal properties, making it cool in summer and warm in winter. The combination of cut and loop piles has made moquette fabric extremely hard wearing, whilst the coloured patterns help to conceal dirt and maintain its appearance.

Many different designers have been involved in the design of moquette fabrics, one of the most prominent being Wallace Sewell, having designed the London Overground, Tramlink, Barman and interim Crossrail moquettes. Wallace Sewell take their inspiration from London’s landscape, and start the production process by exploring the areas surrounding the train routes. They then transfer key aspects of the journeys into coloured sketches, using different geometric formats to do so.

Visitors to Designology will discover how the way moquette is produced has changed since the 1930s, with photographs of the process showing mechanical looms which weave up to four different coloured threads together. Also on display are original Wallace Sewell patterns and sketches, and moquette examples from the past.