Margaret Calvert, a pioneering graphic designer, has been instrumental in shaping the visual identity of Britain's roads and railways. Born near Durban in South Africa, Calvert came to Britain as a teenager, studying at Chelsea College of Art where she immersed herself in the vibrant creative scene of 1950s London.
Calvert met her future partner, Jock Kinneir, while working for him in his cramped mews office in Knightsbridge. Initially, she did various tasks, including typing and illustration, before being promoted to partner by 1964. Together, they designed transport signage that has become iconic in British culture. Calvert's design process is centered around improving legibility, ease of use, and human-centered approach.
Calvert's work on Transport, a sans-serif typeface, was met with resistance from traditionalists who preferred serif fonts. However, after thorough trials and testing, the new font won out, marking a significant victory for modernity. This "Battle of the Serif" has become an intriguing story about Britain's complex relationship with progress.
Calvert's teaching career at the Royal College of Art spanned nearly 40 years, during which she encouraged critical thinking and exploration in her students. One student, Stefan Bufler, credits Calvert for helping him identify flaws in his ideas and refine them. Her approach to design is rooted in a process that balances head, heart, and hand.
Calvert's work can be seen on various platforms, from gov.uk to digital signage at airports, with her collaboration with Henrik Kubel on New Transport font demonstrating the enduring appeal of her designs.
Calvert met her future partner, Jock Kinneir, while working for him in his cramped mews office in Knightsbridge. Initially, she did various tasks, including typing and illustration, before being promoted to partner by 1964. Together, they designed transport signage that has become iconic in British culture. Calvert's design process is centered around improving legibility, ease of use, and human-centered approach.
Calvert's work on Transport, a sans-serif typeface, was met with resistance from traditionalists who preferred serif fonts. However, after thorough trials and testing, the new font won out, marking a significant victory for modernity. This "Battle of the Serif" has become an intriguing story about Britain's complex relationship with progress.
Calvert's teaching career at the Royal College of Art spanned nearly 40 years, during which she encouraged critical thinking and exploration in her students. One student, Stefan Bufler, credits Calvert for helping him identify flaws in his ideas and refine them. Her approach to design is rooted in a process that balances head, heart, and hand.
Calvert's work can be seen on various platforms, from gov.uk to digital signage at airports, with her collaboration with Henrik Kubel on New Transport font demonstrating the enduring appeal of her designs.
I think it's dope how Calvert's design process was all about making signs more accessible and user-friendly. Like, can you imagine navigating a train station without clear directions 
. Her partnership with Jock Kinneir is also super inspiring - they were like the ultimate design duo 
. And omg, I love how she challenged those traditionalists who thought serif fonts were the way to go 
. The story of the "Battle of the Serif" is so fascinating 
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. And I'm not surprised she had a lasting impact on students like Stefan Bufler 
. Calvert's work is still widely used today, and it's amazing to see how her designs continue to evolve 
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. I love how she believed in using a sans-serif typeface over traditional serif fonts - it was like she was a total game-changer for modern design 
. And its awesome that she taught at the Royal College of Art for so long, inspiring students like Stefan Bufler to think more critically about their designs 
... I mean, have you seen those iconic train and bus signs? They're still recognizable today! It's crazy that she went up against traditionalists over her modern sans-serif typeface... the "Battle of the Serif" 
. But seriously, it's dope to see how she infused design with human-centeredness and legibility. I think we can all learn from her approach, especially when it comes to user experience 
its just a font fam. she had to fight against those old-school serif enthusiasts 
and still won out. thats what i call progress 
also, can we talk about how her designs are literally everywhere gov.uk and airports? like, who needs that much Calvert in our lives? lol also, 40 yrs at RCA is a lot of time to be stuck in one design style... maybe she shoulda tried somethin new for once 
. I mean, can you even imagine working with Jock Kinneir and changing the face of British transport signage? 
The whole "Battle of the Serif" thing is so interesting - it's like, you had these traditionalists who were all set on using serif fonts, but Calvert and Kinneir were like, 'Nah, let's try something new!' 
.
anyway, it's dope to see that a female graphic designer from South Africa was the one who helped modernize Britain's signage game. 40 years at RCA is no joke, Calvert must've seen some things in her time... all those students must've had their egos bruised by her critiques 
. Her design process is all about people first, which is something we can all learn from 
I mean, have u seen those iconic fonts like transport and how she defied the serif haters? 
I think it's so cool how Margaret Calvert broke ground for herself as a graphic designer in the 50s & 60s London scene 
Born in South Africa but raised in Britain, and then comes to London, immersed in all that crazy creativity... it's like the ultimate rags-to-riches tale. 
her approach is all about human-centered design, which is super refreshing in a world where everything feels so corporate and soulless 
? And let's not forget about the "Battle of the Serif" - that's some epic history right there 
I remember those 1950s London creatives like they were my aunties 
! Anyway, it's great to see her legacy living on through her students and collaborations... still gives me goosebumps thinking about that "Battle of the Serif" 
that battle of the serif thing is wild tho - gotta respect her for not giving up on modernity 
plus, can you imagine being a student of hers at the royal college of art? 
stefan bufler must be living his best life with those design skills 
. Her design process is so human-centered, it's like she knew people would actually use it