An award-winning real-time passenger information platform for London
Client: Transport for London
Role: Product Design & front-end build
Agency: Neon Ink / Freelance
Year: 2018-2023
TfL’s digital signs are a major infrastructure project for London providing real-time bus information on screens all over the capital.
I worked on design concepts and front-end development that connected seamlessly with a back-end management system.
A key challenge was simplifying a large amount of information into a clear, visual format. The goal was to help viewers quickly find and understand what they needed without feeling overwhelmed or experiencing cognitive overload. This meant prioritising essential details and using clean, intuitive layouts to guide the eye naturally.
Design
The signs were built to be fully responsive, adapting smoothly to a variety of screen sizes and orientations-both landscape and portrait
We tested the signs thoroughly for legibility and accessibility, making sure they were easy to read from different distances in busy environments like hospitals, shops, and tube stations.
We also took into account glare from sunlight and artificial lighting when choosing colors, ensuring there was enough contrast to keep the signs clear and visible in all conditions.
Sign management
The sign administration system provides a centralised dashboard where you can view all your signs on an interactive map.
From this interface, you users can monitor the real-time status of every sign, including whether they are online or offline, and receive alerts if any API errors occur.
Visual hierarchy, intuitive icons, and color coding help users grasp key information at a glance without feeling overwhelmed.
This comprehensive overview not only streamlines troubleshooting but also laid a solid foundation for the sign management capabilities, enabling more advanced features and integrations as the system evolves.
“The team developed an innovative, award winning platform for Transport for London. We found their approach pragmatic, responsive and focused on our needs. Developing original software requires an expert hand.”
— Transport for London
Impact
Since the initial test roll-out, TFL have deployed the signs to many locations around London. The project won “Best New Technology” at the British Transport Awards.
andy@neonink.co
© 2025
Andy Marciniak