Sound of the Underground: A radio design inspired by the Tube map

As per usual we like introducing random eclectic and intelligent designs to our blogosphere and keeping as many readers inspired as possible. Now we can’t lie about this one- it is truly amazing! Combining aesthetic design with clever decisions, a famous city icon and technology, we present to you the radio circuit board that is arranged in the style of the London Tube map!

The project is by Yuri Suzuki and his aim is to ‘demystify consumer electronics.’ (dezeen.com) There is also a movie about it, discussing the project’s mission, ideas and development behind this remarkably fascinating circuit board with the designer speaking of his work. If interested click here to find out more about all this hype. It is part of the Design Museum’s Designers in Residence 2012 and filmed by Alice Masters.

However, we at Den thought we would discuss the innovation and layout a miniature preview it for you here. Suzuki has based his arrangement of parts on the original Tube map by Harry Beck, which displays the lines and stations annotated on the electrical working circuit. Where there is a major stop or station, Suzuki has cleverly represented it with a relatable part containing a functional link. For example, he has placed a battery where Battersea Power Station is and speaker where Speaker’s Corner lies. These double usages are extremely intriguing and entertaining when designing, as an alternative meaning always adds layers to any piece of creative work!

The designer’s mission was to simplify and illustrate the working parts behind the façade of consumer electronics that we all so regularly enjoy. He stated “it is difficult for consumers to understand the complexity of the workings behind the exterior” of today’s electronic devices, therefore by showing the working parts and their interaction in such a fashion we can all visually relate to, we consumers can come to terms with how modern technology can be created very simply. The radio was a great destination to start at and we hope we can see a continued series of such work. As such a media-infused society of today, the radio was a sound choice. (Excuse the pun!) Very few of us know the internal operations of such an everyday electronic we take for granted, so Suzuki has not only fulfilled his initial objective, but has brought us back down to earth so we can appreciate and understand the basic things.

Images from dezeen.com