ARTWORK STYLE - TRANSIT MAPS
Originality of Designs
All Mike Bell Maps artworks are original designs created by British designer and researcher Mike Bell. Each piece is the result of extensive research, concept development, and visual experimentation, transforming complex cultural stories into clear and engaging transit-style art prints.
Independent, Transformative Artwork
The distinctive tube-map visual style used across my prints is entirely original in execution and concept. While the aesthetic is inspired by classic information design, none of my works are endorsed by, connected to, or associated with Transport for London (TfL) or any other transport authority. Every layout, colour scheme, and connection line is uniquely designed to communicate musical, cinematic, or cultural journeys — not geographic routes.
Copyright and Fair Dealing
Since 2014, UK copyright law has recognised pastiche as a legitimate form of fair dealing. This allows artists to create new, transformative works that reference or reimagine existing visual styles without reproducing or substituting the original designs. My maps clearly fall within this definition — they are reinterpretations that use visual language to explain music histories, film plots, and political narratives in a completely new context.
Creative Integrity
Each map under the Mike Bell Maps name is designed, researched, and produced in-house in East Sussex, UK. No elements are copied, traced, or directly replicated from existing transport materials. The layouts are built from scratch using detailed data sets and cultural timelines, ensuring that every print represents a fresh piece of visual storytelling.
Purpose and Spirit of the Work
These prints are intended as artworks, educational pieces, and tributes to the music, film, and cultural histories they represent. They are not navigational tools, nor substitutes for any original transport maps. The goal is to bring structure and clarity to complex creative legacies — transforming information into visual journeys that invite discovery and discussion.
Through this approach, Mike Bell Maps celebrates both the heritage of modern design and the right to artistic reinterpretation — turning familiar visual systems into something entirely new, meaningful, and culturally valuable.
