the london transport roundel is one of the earliest, best, most familiar and enduring of all corporate logos.
it’s been around in one guise or another for exactly 100 years ago this autumn.
 

edward johnston [1872-1944], the brilliant arts and crafts calligrapher, is who turned the 1908 ‘bullseye’ into a strikingly handsome and wholly convincing symbol by 1917. johnston worked on the design over a number of years, and had perfected its balance and proportions by the time the architect charles holden began incorporating it into the distinctive underground stations he designed from the 1920s. as for lettering, johnston designed his superb sans-serif capitals for pick between 1913 and 1916.

london underground: roundel sign's 100th anniversary london transport by ray man, 1938

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