Roberts M – THE DECADE OF DIAGRAMS 2019

Description

Maxwell J. Roberts’s 2019 scholarly paper, “The Decade of Diagrams,” offers a meticulously researched, 10-page exploration into the formative era of schematic transport maps. Presented at the TU Wien Schematic Mapping Workshop, this document challenges conventional narratives by showcasing the widespread, international adoption of schematisation techniques during the 1930s. It features an impressive collection of 32 historical images, including rare maps, posters, and station photographs from diverse cities like London, Berlin, and Chicago. Roberts, an expert in the field from the University of Essex, provides a well-referenced (28 citations) analysis of modernism’s influence and network modernization’s role in this cartographic revolution, carefully questioning the sole attribution of design innovation to Henry Beck. This makes it an invaluable resource for historians of cartography, design, and transport, offering high trustworthiness and academic rigor.