Harry Beck's Tube Map - Necessity First, Nothing Next
For the sake of context, Harry Beck is an electrician who in 1931 reimagined and redesigned the London Underground map used specifically by passengers. The previous designs by the London Transport were quite meticulous and showed all the intricacies of the path taken but the train (with a few distortions to highlight the center).
If this were to be a map used by a person on foot or driving, having to consciously navigate every twist and turn to arrive at his or her destination, this would have been a perfect tool, the passengers on the other hand had just 2 aims whenever they picked up a map - to pinpoint their current positon, and to visually link their current position to their destination. To put it simply, they just want to know they are on the right track (no pun intended, alright, alright, maybe just a little) to get to their destination.
Artwork; presentation drawing for diagrammatic Underground map, by Henry C Beck, 1931 |
This is similar to how user manuals are never read by anyone, it contains so much good information, yet, some would rather chew the brown part of saw-dust than read them.
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Scientific Toys 26.96-27.28 MHz WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL TOY-TX |
The point here is regardless of how good or detailed or complex a design is, it should be laid out such that the intended user would have no trouble using it for their immediate need.
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