Henry C Beck and alfred h.barr jr

Henry was the first person to do a graphic representation of a geographical map that we all know to be the classic london underground map. He was a underground employee who decided to do a illustrated geometrcal map in 1933 of the different stops of the underground as the previous one was a complicated web of stops that really wasn't very user friendly. However this radical new design was so different it was soon adopted by tube travelers instantly. The reason for it being such a good design is the fact that its purpose is to help people mentally visualise the tube map. The simple geometric lines with the bright colors is easily recognisable and helps you remember certain lines.

This same design philosophy was then adapt in 1936 by alfred h.barr jr (who was the first director of the new york's museum of modern art) who decided to do a graphical diagram of how the avant- grande movement intertwined and influenced each other through time. He used ruffly the same formula just in a different case. As in those day you didn'tt have google where you can see how the different movements interacted. As for the colors and layout of the pieces though they are a composition and a art in them selfs and especially the london underground print that is a globally iconic image now.



I feel looking into this has been helpful as its given my a good idea of a philosophy behind the designs as how the mind interacts with these graphics and how you can project a certain message or image in somebody's mind. Also with me starting to do a Mandrian stye worksop map i felt it would be useful to look at these to help inform that piece.