London is a city of complex structures, partly dating back to medieval times, with few long vistas but a multitude of destinations and attractive areas. With more than 27 million visitors a year, walkability is important. While the London tube map is recognised as one of the best wayfinding diagrams in the world, information for walking has been less well served. In fact more than 45% of people have been using the tube map as an aid for walking too!

The idea of Legible London is to provide better support for the millions who walk every day – that’s more than half of all journeys in the capital. Our 2005 study identified no fewer than 32 separate pedestrian sign systems in the central area, resulting in visual noise rather than reliable, coordinated information. Legible London aims to provide that coordination: across neighbourhoods and borough boundaries, connecting up with the other transport modes, and delivering information not just in the street, but in all the ways people find their way around.

The proposals in the Transport for London (TfL) funded study – to develop a coordinated system across the capital in time for the 2012 Olympic Games – received in principle support from London boroughs and following a public exhibition, in hand with our product design partners, we developed a prototype sign system which was installed in the West End in November 2007. We were subsequently commissioned by TfL as system designer to oversee three large pilot schemes which were implemented by late 2009.