Roberts M – ROUND IN CIRCLES AND BACK AGAIN 2024

Description

In 2013 Maxwell J. Roberts published a London Underground map using concentric circles and spokes, inspired by the 2007 London Overground orbital and an experimental Paris guidebook map. He explains the design process—choosing a central point (Tottenham Court Road), laying out spokes and arcs, and deliberately breaking some rules to avoid severe topographical distortion—resulting in a distinctive roundel-shaped Circle Line. The original map drew wide attention but suffered from station position distortions and usability issues: concentric designs often sacrifice simplicity and can make journeys appear roundabout. Comparative testing favored traditional octolinear maps for journey planning. Roberts used lessons from global projects and encountered IP problems. In 2024 he updated the London map—centred on Oxford Circus—to include current services and prioritise credible local station relationships, true spokes (except east–west horizontals), fewer direction changes, and less topographical distortion. His goal was a serious, usable alternative to the declining official Underground diagram.