London Underground Case Study

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20. Does the London Underground poster designs embody the Look, Mood, Aspiration, Technology of the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s?

Graphic Design has been around for generations giving it a vibrant history. For this, the case study was going to specifically look at the London Underground. Starting from the 1920 when the avant-garde posters were created, all the way to 1940 during the Second World War. The idea behind this study is to see how the design has changed depending on the time period. The time periods this case study will observe are 1920’s, 1930’s and finally 1940’s. This will give a variety of posters to discuss. In addition, we will look at how the design embodies the look, mood, aspiration, and technology, historical, social and …show more content…

By the 1900’s some of the first graphics appeared for transportation involving posters and signwriting, for instance, the London Underground. At the start, many people found these difficult to understand and follow but did develop around 1915. 1916 saw the beginning of the iconic typeface, which could be seen throughout many station signs, directions, posters and various information. The typeface was created by Edward Johnston and is used throughout all of the Undergrounds property and publicity. The poster was one of the main advertisement methods of the underground and could be recognised by the typeface. Many posters in the early era of the Underground showed people being happy and busy a great example is the poster ‘Brightest London’, but this design will be discussed more clearly later. Frank Pick was a major contributor to the design and industries association. However, forty says His plan was to bring together people to help create a coordinated environment and efficient system, which required help from others. Picks intentions were ‘to entice the prospective traveller indirectly’ (Green 1990 p.10). Meaning his goal was to promote the underground by using the imagery of theatre, concerts, etc. Posters, map design and signs were useful towards his completion of the Underground. His intentions were to make the designs for the London Underground uplifting especially in …show more content…

The goal behind this poster as mentioned earlier is to promote the underground by showing activities the traveller could participate in if they travelled by underground. The colours and style are that of an avant-garde movement being bright and eye catching to the viewer. The mood and feel of figure 1 are obviously trying to represent a good time and happiness. However, does this fit in with the 1920’s The beginning of the 20’s was prosperity; nonetheless by the time the poster was created it was the start of the great depression. So in a sense the mood and the feel do not resemble the 20’s. In addition, to the vibrant colours its design isn’t targeted at specific people and suggests that the underground is available to anyone and everyone. To identify the poster for the underground, the typeface was printed subtly at the base. Society at this time was focused on women, particularly with them being employed and being able to vote nearer the end of the 1920’s. With women’s independence becoming a new thing during this time, the poster seems to focus its attention on them. ‘Women felt more confident and empowered, and this new independence was reflected in the new fashions’. (Website no 1. P5). Everything required for independence was represented by shortest; this could be seen in the poster design. The 1920’s were definitely about

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