Go underground: 100 years of Edward Johnston’s seminal London typeface

By
last updated
in Features
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft-Edward Johnston typeface display
To mark the 100th anniversary of the London Underground’s iconic and instantly recognisable typeface – Johnston Sans – the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is putting on an exhibition to celebrate it’s maker, Edward Johnston
(Image credit: TBC)

It seems ironic, if not mildly amusing, that one of the most urban of signifiers of all – the famous London Underground typeface – was dreamt up in a small Sussex village. And yet it was. That same lettering is celebrating its 100 anniversary this year, so in tribute, the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is putting on a show. 

'Underground: 100 years of Edward Johnston’s Lettering from London' tells the tale of calligrapher Edward Johnson and traces the evolution of his sans serif alphabet, now known as Johnston Sans, through a series of working drawings and early prototypes. 

Commissioned in 1913 by Frank Pick, the commercial manager for the London Underground Railway, the typeface aimed for nothing more than consistency and clarity. ‘The bold simplicity of the authentic lettering of the finest periods and yet belonging unmistakably to the 20th century,’ as Pick put it. 

At the time, disparate companies and identities made up the tube network and Edwardian London was plastered with competing commercial slogans in increasingly elaborate scripts. Ever the purist, Johnston went back to his calligraphy roots and simplified the Roman letters down to their very essence, distilling along the way a visual identity that endures today. (The font was only updated once, and ever so slightly, in 1979.)

The exhibition looks at Johnston's work and his role in the Arts and Crafts movements which was, at the time, in full swing in the Sussex countryside. The relationship between Johnston and Eric Gill, a friend and former student of Johnston’s, comes under scrutiny too. Gill Sans – another popular sans serif font – was inspired by Johnston Sans, after all. But it is the enduring character of Johnston Sans that steals the spotlight. 

Johnston’s design for an alphabet, 1916

Johnston’s design for an alphabet, 1916. Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London

(Image credit: TBC)

Edward Johnston typeface display at Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft

The exhibition traces the evolution of Johnston’s sans serif alphabet through a series of working drawings and early prototypes

(Image credit: TBC)

Edward Johnston at his desk

Edward Johnston at his desk. Courtesy Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft

(Image credit: TBC)

left: Defacing posters notice and Right: Bulls eye posters for London transport

Pictured left: ’Defacing Posters’ notice. Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Pictured right: the now iconic ’Bulls Eye’. Courtesy Crafts Study Centre

(Image credit: TBC)

Edward Johnston typeface display at Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft

Johnston Sans aimed for nothing more than consistency and clarity – ‘the bold simplicity of the authentic lettering of the finest periods and yet belonging unmistakably to the 20th century,’ as Pick put it

(Image credit: TBC)

’Way Out’ sign at Brompton Road

’Way Out’ sign at Brompton Road, 1916. Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London

(Image credit: TBC)

Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft

The Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft was redeveloped in 2013 and was an ArtFund Museum of the Year finalist in 2014. Photography: Brotherton and Lock

(Image credit: Brotherton and Lock)

INFORMATION

'Underground: 100 years of Edward Johnston’s Lettering for London' is on view until 11 September. For more information, visit the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft's website 

ADDRESS

Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
Lodge Hill Lane
Ditchling
Hassocks
BN6 8SP

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS