Why the London Overground rebrand is more than just a pretty pattern

London's famous Tube map design is to get a major update. Transport for London (TfL) has announced new names and colours for the city's six Overland lines.

The Overland lines will be named the Lioness line, the Mildmay line, the Windrush line, the Weaver line, the Suffragette line and the Liberty line, and each will have its own colour. But it's more than just a superficial rebranding. This is an example of how design can aid usability (see our guide to UX theory)

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Joe Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

Read more
Double Arrow plus Union Jack design for Great British Railways
The Great British Railways logo has a lot riding on it. Here's how it could look
Voyageurs written in different ways, one on a hot dog, one in metal band logo style, one like a kid has drawn it and one in pink Barbie style
This French railway rebrand has caught my eye
British Airways Club rebrand
British Airways turns the hidden beauty of flight paths into a clever new logo design
YouTube logo
YouTube finally explains its subtle logo redesign
YouTube icon
The YouTube logo changed colour, and people are only just noticing
HBO logo and possible new Max logo
Sorry HBO, this isn't the MAX rebrand we wanted
Latest in Branding
Monotype quiz
What's your type? Take this font quiz to find your soulmate
Microsoft To Do
People have some Very Strong Opinions on the Microsoft To Do icons
Between the Lines
"It's not enough to be a good writer”: Zosia Swidlicka on the importance of brand language in copywriting
Clippers logos old vs new
New LA Clippers logo is an instant classic
Reddit rebrand
'Help us clean up... that was the assignment': How we made Reddit's new identity
Rockstar energy drink
"Lively, buzzy and spirited": Rockstar rebrand ditches traditional energy drink aesthetics
Latest in News
GIMP logo on a gradient background
After 20 years, GIMP could finally be the free Photoshop alternative I hoped for
MacBook deals
Save $600 on a MacBook Pro with my pick of the best 3 Mac deals right now
Yahoo billboard
Yahoo's tsunami billboard is all kinds of horrifying
A screenshot from a video presenting Mythica Open Source Library
Mythica's open-source platform allows anyone to use these two studios' assets for game development
Images from the making of Ubisoft Brazil Assassin's Creed Shadows advert
This hilarious Assassin’s Creed Shadows ad is giving me Power Rangers vibes
A screenshot from a Unity sizzle reel
Unity 6 goes all-in on AI for future updates - and extends platform support