Johnston (or Johnston Sans) is the sans-serif typeface used throughout the 20th century for lettering on London Transport: London Underground and London Buses. It is particularly famous for its use on the Tube map and for the name plates on each station of the Underground.

The original Johnston typeface was commissioned by Frank Pick , the director of London Transport, in 1915 for the London Underground’s corporate identity. It was designed by (and named after) Edward Johnston the following year. Eric Gill also worked on the project, and the design was later to influence his Gill Sans typeface, produced 1928–1932.

Johnston Sans was redesigned in 1979 by Colin Banks to produce New Johnston.

Adaptations

Some signs at Arnos Grove tube station are in a 'petit-serif' adaptation of Johnston Sans. This type-face was designed by Charles Holden and Percy Delf Smith .

Sample

The following paragraph is in Johnston or New Johnston, if it is installed on your machine. If not, a monospace font is used:

External links

• London Transport Museum page on Johnston Sans
• Identifont page for ITC Johnston