Braidwood – BIRTH OF THE INTELLIGIBLE BUS MAP 1981

Description

This two-page article, “Birth of the Intelligible Bus Map,” by Steve Braidwood, was featured in the September 1981 issue of *Design* magazine. This historically significant document offers an in-depth look at London Transport’s revolutionary new bus map, celebrated for its clarity and user-focused design. The article is richly illustrated, presenting compelling visual comparisons between complex, older bus maps from Birmingham and Sheffield, and detailed sections of the innovative London map. Authored by a reporter for a respected design publication, it discusses expert committee involvement and the adoption of nodal analysis and color-coding. This piece stands as a crucial historical case study in information design, demonstrating a pivotal shift towards legibility and user experience in public transport mapping, and its insights remain highly relevant for design, cartography, and urban studies professionals today.