Comments on: The London Underground roundel

By: Ben Moore

Ben Moore — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:20:18 +0000

I recently visited Shanghai and loved their Metro logo. I don’t know how to embed my photo in this reply, so please see English wikipedia (wouldn’t that be “wikipoedia?”):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shanghai_Metro_logo.svg

Shanghai pays sincere homage to London, then tweaks the details:

1) Cross bar is red like the circle and joined to it, and 2) Circle is broken twice, so that the overall shape is “S” for Shanghai. 3) Cross bar is further modified by adding a zigzag which can be seen either as “M” for Metro or as a bolt of electricity, unavailable when Thames was first tubed-under.

Great poets; steel.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:53:41 +0000

Too bad they didn’t incorporate that logo with their Olympic logo. A missed opportunity for sure.

By: Rob Cubbon

Rob Cubbon — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:05:44 +0000

Speaking as someone who’s used the tube quite alot for 20 years I have always loved the branding of the simple tube symbol (people actually re-create it when they are drawing maps for you – that’s the sign of success), I have always loved the typography and I’ve always loved the tube map (schematic diagram). The actual experience of travelling on London’s Underground system itself isn’t that good.

By: lee newham

lee newham — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:08:05 +0000

Do you identify with this symbol or the company it represents?

It’s amazing that people read thins into it like ‘the red circle is London and the blue line is the Thames’ and yet this was never the intention of the design.

It is a great design, but it’s become iconic by accident due to the way it’s been used and the brand it’s associated with. It if was only used on on trams we wouldn’t be writing this as the symbol would be forgotten.

A perfect example of a confident iconic design associated with an iconic brand that has embraced design across all areas from fabric design, posters, logo, stations, architecture etc. It’s the sum of the parts that is iconic, not JUST the symbol.

By: Sreeraman M.G

Sreeraman M.G — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:25:53 +0000

The kind of emotional attachment we develop to things that we come across or use daily is the reason for the success of this logo. Somethings are better left untouched ;)

By: Alin B.

Alin B. — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:46:31 +0000

@Bob
dear uncle,
please forgive me for being so bold, but i have seen so many smart logos done by young and not so young artists-designers and for a concept like that i think it could be done more…
for now It is done, people like the work, nothing wrong with that.

**
this is my humble opinion…
I can be wrong, as much i can be right.
**
Regarding my right to criticize, i have it as we all do and does not have anything to do with my professional life…
I could be doctor, or a soldier, or your son’s teacher, would that change that Underground Logo is not so clever in my eyes, as it could be?
I think, no…
Cheers, your nephew from Romania.
:)

P.S.
probably none of the logos from the link below won’t ever be so famous, because they are not in the exposure and use as underground logo…

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11750&id=100000487226016&l=2c35a6e377

By: Anthony Hawkins

Anthony Hawkins — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:25:24 +0000

I always love to see the development and the history of logos. History adds so much to an icon and to the symbol.

By: Abbas

Abbas — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:44:47 +0000

I wonder why all call it the ’roundel’ when it’s named ‘bullseye’ on those original designs?

Got to love it though, especially the simplified Transport for London version. You just get it.

By: Bob (your uncle)

Bob (your uncle) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:12:42 +0000

@Alin B: “a red circle for a – tube… yeahhh. right.. veeery smart”. Maybe you should read the article. The original red disk was to attract attention to the station name. Nothing to do with tubes.

In fact the circle actually represents London, and the blue bar in the middle of it is the Thames. This was not only the logo for the Underground but also for the whole of what was known as London Transport. So the logo makes sense.

And anyway, what timeless, iconic designs have you done recently which give you the right to criticise?

By: Dezayner

Dezayner — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:41:59 +0000

I never been in London, but I can imagine that the Logo is very important. Amazingly, the Logo identify the City.