This year marks the 150th anniversary of the London Underground. To commemorate this graphic designer Tom Wood has led a project entitled Off The Map, which allows people to discover the stories behind the Underground’s disused stations.
The Tube has seen some of the biggest changes in society during its service. Ever-evolving demands have required a range of alternations, resulting in a wide range of disused stations across the network.
Ten original poster designs bring to life the history and secrets of forgotten stations including Aldwych, British Museum and Down Street. The designs offer an engaging portal into discovering the history of these lost stations, providing a visual overview of the evolution of the longest running underground railway.
St Mary’s (1904 – 1934)
Thomas Wood comments, “At 18, I was looking out of the window on the Central Line and saw what looked like white tiles in the middle of the tunnel. I was fascinated to later discover this was the remnants of one of the many now disused stations, each with their own unique history.”
“I wanted to create a brand and designs that would depict the mystery and intrigue that lie behind these lost underground worlds. For example, the design for British Museum Station illustrates the glimpses of the famous classic platform tiling that can still be seen from passing Central Line trains. For Down Street, the design depicts its demise as a result of low passenger traffic due to more popular neighbouring stations.”
Brompton Road (1906 – 1934)
“The Underground is a lifeline for Londoners and visitors to the city. Its design is one of the most recognisable in the world but in its 150th year – when we celebrate the successes of the Underground – these unique new designs commemorate what’s been ‘lost’, and for many what they never knew existed.”
These posters are available to buy, and you can view all of the designs on the project’s website.