Celebrating 100 years of the roundel

The roundel first appeared on Underground station platforms in 1908. The bar and circle, as it became known, comprised a solid red enamel disc and horizontal blue bar. These early roundels, framed with timber mouldings, were introduced as station nameboards. The new device gave prominence to the name of the station, and helped passengers distinguish it from surrounding commercial advertising.

If you find yourself in London this week, head over to A Foundation Gallery Rochelle School, where Art on the Underground have commissioned 100 artists to make brand new works of art that are inspired by the Roundel as a contemporary symbol for a world class transport system. Better make it fast because the exhibition closes this Thursday.

Visit the London Transport Museum for more information.

Via guardian.co.uk