On show at the Design Museum in London’s Kensington is a small but fascinating retrospective on the work of Margaret Calvert, graphic designer. Ever wondered about how much easier it is to find your way on a British motorway than it is the ones on the Continent and in North America? Thank Margaret Calvert. Have you marvelled at the clean lines of the British Rail corporate style of 40 years ago and considered that it set a standard for all railway wayfinding in the decades since? Again, thank Margaret Calvert.
COLLABORATION
Margaret Calvert worked with fellow designer Jock Kinneir in the formative years of the British motorway network, 1958-65. At a time when road signage in the UK was a dog’s breakfast of different shapes and styles, the pair worked to set a national standard for signs that were clearly legible by drivers travelling at speed. The result was road signs using the Transport font set on a blue or green background, with a white border, with which we have all become familiar.
‘You read the shape’ Ms Calvert said, which was the reason for selecting lower case for all but the first letter in place names, rather than the blocky all upper case words that had prevailed beforehand. She was so me…
