Creativity Innovation Process Tube

Connecting the World of Electrical Design and Geography

What better way to show the journey involved in organisational Creativity and Innovation than a classic 'tube' map, especially when its originator, Harry Beck, traced a similar path, in its creation in 1931. 'How to make a make a complex geographical network into something that people could understand easily' was the challenge that Beck faced.

Henry Beck was a genius to connect the World of Electrical Drawing with the World of Geography.

Beck was not a map drawer, but drew inspiration from his discipline as an electrical draftsman. He used his skills with electrical circuit diagrams for his design, stripping the sprawling Tube network down to basics. He linked dissimilar concepts and put them together in a way that no one has done before creating a visually appealing, representational diagram. The 'tube map' does not accurately represent the geography or distances of the network, but that is less important than people's understanding of where they where and how they should get to their destinations.

Similarly the Creativity and Innovation line does not show the complexity involved, but gives the reader a high-level flavour of what is required to create and innovate. Start on the left with "why bother" and make your way around. As you pass each station a pop-up will inform you.

Beck travelled through many of the stations in his passionate quest. Like many great innovators, his idea met with initial rejection (it was 'too revolutionary'), but his passion and support from friends finally won the day.

When an initial test proved popular with the travelling public the London Underground changed its map format and it has remained essentially unchanged since. A map that conveys a clear, unchaotic perspective of a complex journey.

Source: Picture © Ken Garland, Mr Beck's Underground Map, Capital Transport, 1994.