Often considered the “mother of modern-day information design”, British typographer Margaret Calvert (born 1936) designs are on half the public signage in Britain.
Often considered the “mother of modern-day information design”, British typographer Margaret Calvert (born 1936) designs are on half the public signage in Britain.
Margaret Calvert.
Margaret Calvert.
She is widely recognized for this collaboration with typographer Jock Kinneir, creating an identity for British rail, motorways, airports, and roads.
She is widely recognized for this collaboration with typographer Jock Kinneir, creating an identity for British rail, motorways, airports, and roads.
Transport sans serif original artwork, lowercase letters, tiling system 1957–1964. Image via the British Road Sign Project.
Transport sans serif original artwork, lowercase letters, tiling system 1957–1964. Image via the British Road Sign Project.
When studying illustration at the Chelsea College of Art, Calvert encountered Jock Kinneir as a tutor and soon joined his office. In 1957, Calvert and Kinneir presented Transport sans serif font for road signs in the United Kingdom. Kinneir and Calvert’s designs changed the British landscape and became a role model for modern road signage all over the world. By the early 60s, Kinneir and Calvert were engaged to create an identity for the British Railway system. Their resulting typeface—Rail Alphabet—was meant to provide viewers on a platform with a clear, effective break from the busy advertisements that surrounded station signs.
When studying illustration at the Chelsea College of Art, Calvert encountered Jock Kinneir as a tutor and soon joined his office. In 1957, Calvert and Kinneir presented Transport sans serif font for road signs in the United Kingdom. Kinneir and Calvert’s designs changed the British landscape and became a role model for modern road signage all over the world. By the early 60s, Kinneir and Calvert were engaged to create an identity for the British Railway system. Their resulting typeface—Rail Alphabet—was meant to provide viewers on a platform with a clear, effective break from the busy advertisements that surrounded station signs.
Children Crossing Road sign designed by Margaret Calvert, 1965. Courtesy of the British Road Sign Project.
Children Crossing Road sign designed by Margaret Calvert, 1965. Courtesy of the British Road Sign Project.
Basic elements of Rail Alphabet. Courtesy doublearrow.co.uk
Basic elements of Rail Alphabet. Courtesy doublearrow.co.uk