London’s underground map redesigned for International Women’s Day

The project ‘City of Women’ is led by writer Reni Eddo-Lodge and actor Emma Watson, working alongside activist Rebecca Solnit, in partnership with Transport for London (TfL). Reimaging the Underground map encourages Londoners to take a second glance at places we might once have taken for granted.

Dr Leah Lovett (UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis) developed the digital version that allows people to learn more about each person and their lives. It features biographies and interviews from contemporary women and non-binary people. It draws from figures in arts, sports, activism, science, media, law, medicine and beyond.

Those linked to UCL include:

• Honorary Professor Baroness Hale, who replaces St James Park
• Cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, who replaces Oval
• Olympic athlete Christine Ohuruogu who replaces Elm Park

UCL alumna Jadé Fadojutimi (UCL Slade School of Fine Art), an acclaimed visual artist, was also included, replacing Barkingside. In 2020 Jade was one of 11 from UCL’s community named in Forbes’ annual ‘Top 30 Under 30’ list of leading entrepreneurs and creatives in Europe.

The interactive map uses Memory Mapper software, an open-source web application created by Dr Duncan Hay (UCL CASA), and builds on The Bartlett's research into mapping cultural heritage.

UCL Knowledge Exchange & Innovation funding enabled the use of innovative digital technologies to give historical and narrative context to the print version of the map. The funding was distributed by UCL Innovation & Enterprise from UCL’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Account 2020-22.

Read the full story on the UCL News website.

Links

Find out more about:

• City of Women
• Knowledge exchange funding for UCL staff
• Innovation and enterprise support for UCL staff
• Support for external organisations to partner with UCL
• The Guardian article
• UCL Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis
• The Bartlett, UCL Faculty of the Built Environment

The image above is a screenshot from the City of Women.