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You can build an editable London Tube-inspired sign from three ordinary Office objects: a red circle, a blue horizontal bar and a white text box. PowerPoint is the easiest choice for precise positioning and multiple signs; Word works well when the sign belongs inside a worksheet, invitation or printable document. The result is a personal imitation, not an official Transport for London (TfL) asset.
What you need
- Desktop Word or PowerPoint (the current Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 desktop editions, plus several earlier supported editions, provide the relevant shape controls).
- A blank presentation or document.
- A plain, readable sans-serif font already installed on your computer.
- A printer or PDF export if you need a physical sign.
Microsoft documents shape fills, custom colors, transparency and effects for Word and PowerPoint here: Microsoft shape formatting support.
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The fastest method: PowerPoint
- Open a blank presentation and choose Home > Layout > Blank.
- Choose Insert > Shapes > Oval. Hold Shift while dragging so the oval remains a true circle.
- Select the circle, then use Shape Format > Shape Fill to choose a strong red. Set Shape Outline > No Outline.
- Choose Insert > Shapes > Rectangle and draw a horizontal bar across the circle’s center. Give it a deep-blue fill and no outline.
- Choose Insert > Text Box, type the station name in uppercase and set the text color to white. A separate text box gives better control of font, spacing and margins than typing directly into the rectangle.
- Select the circle, bar and text box. Choose Shape Format > Align > Align Center, then Align > Align Middle.
- If an object is hidden, right-click it and choose Bring to Front. The usual stacking order is circle at the back, bar above it and text at the front.
- Select all three objects and choose Shape Format > Group > Group.
- Save the editable presentation before exporting or printing.
Keep the design flat and clean. A shadow is optional for a decorative version, but omitting it makes the sign closer to a simple transport-style graphic.
Make the same sign in Word
- Open a blank document. Set Layout > Orientation and Layout > Margins before drawing.
- Insert the circle, bar and separate text box using the same steps as in PowerPoint.
- Select each object and choose Shape Format > Wrap Text > In Front of Text. Floating objects are much easier to place than inline objects.
- Use Shape Format > Align > Align Center and Align > Align Middle to center the bar and lettering.
- Group the objects if your Word edition permits it. If grouping is unavailable or unreliable, leave them separate until the design is finished, then export the page as a PDF or paste the completed sign from PowerPoint.
Word’s anchoring and wrapping can cause shapes to move when nearby text changes. For freeform layout or a batch of signs, create the artwork in PowerPoint and insert the finished sign into Word.
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Keep the circle and lettering accurate
Make a mathematically round circle
Do not draw a freehand oval. Hold Shift while drawing, or select an existing shape and open Shape Format > Size; set Height and Width to the same value. Guides and gridlines under View > Guides and View > Gridlines can help, depending on your edition. Use the Selection Pane when overlapping objects are difficult to select.
Center the station name
- Set the text box’s paragraph alignment to Center.
- Set its vertical alignment to Middle.
- If the text sits too low, right-click the box, choose Format Shape, open Text Options > Text Box and reduce the top and bottom internal margins.
- Use one line whenever possible. Reduce font size rather than making the blue bar disproportionately tall.
Names such as BAKER STREET, KING'S CROSS, MY HOME and NORTH POLE are good single-line examples.
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Choose a font without misrepresenting the design
The official TfL typeface, New Johnston, is exclusive to TfL and subject to an application or licence process; it is not a font to download casually. See TfL’s fascia standard: TfL travel-information fascia standard.
For a personal craft, classroom project or private decoration, use a clean sans-serif already on your computer. Arial, Aptos, Helvetica or another plain, reasonably bold sans-serif may work, subject to local availability. These are substitutes, not the official Tube typeface. Favor clear uppercase letters, good readability at a distance and enough width for long names.
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Fit long station names
- Reduce the font size gradually and check the sign at its intended viewing distance.
- Try a narrower sans-serif or modestly reduce character spacing.
- Shorten the wording only when the meaning remains clear; do not squash letters by dragging them horizontally.
- Widen the sign while keeping the circle perfectly round.
- Use the text box’s Fit text option where available, or adjust the size manually.
Choose colors for an inspired, not official, sign
Use a strong red circle, deep-blue bar and white lettering for the familiar visual effect. Do not label approximate RGB or hex values as official TfL colors. TfL treats its colors, proportions and marks as controlled brand elements; the London Underground signs manual describes approved standards: London Underground signs manual.
To make the result clearly unofficial, choose slightly different red and blue shades, use a custom label such as CITY STATION, omit Tube maps and TfL logos, and add a caption such as “London-inspired sign” when context could be confusing.
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Size, print and export
| Use | Practical starting point |
|---|---|
| Worksheet or small label | 2–4 inches wide; keep the name on one line and proof-print first. |
| Wall decoration | 8–16 inches wide. Use heavier card or mount ordinary paper on backing board; assemble multiple pages if your printer cannot print large sheets. |
| Presentation slide | Build it large and test from the back of the room. Avoid thin lettering and weak contrast. |
Export to PDF for dependable document sharing and printing. Export to PNG when you need a reusable image in another application; use JPG only when a smaller file matters more than maximum quality. A screenshot is a last resort and can become soft or pixelated when enlarged. Print a small proof first, especially if your printer uses saturated colors, draft mode or grayscale settings.
Make a sheet of different signs
- Finish and group one sign.
- Duplicate the group in PowerPoint.
- Edit only the text in each duplicate; keep the circle and bar unchanged.
- Select the signs and use Align and Distribute to form even rows and columns.
- Print or export the complete sheet.
This workflow suits classroom transport displays, party tables, wedding seating areas, themed events, children’s room décor and travel projects.
Fix common problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Circle looks oval | Set identical height and width, or redraw while holding Shift. |
| Objects move when text changes | In Word, use Wrap Text > In Front of Text; group after editing, or use PowerPoint for precise placement. |
| Bar is off-center | Select the circle and bar, then use Align Center and Align Middle. Check that the circle itself is round. |
| Text sits too low | Set vertical alignment to Middle and reduce the text box’s internal top and bottom margins. |
| Text spills outside the bar | Reduce font size, use a narrower font, reduce character spacing, shorten the wording or widen the sign without distorting the circle. |
| Objects hide one another | Use Bring Forward, Bring to Front, Send Backward or Send to Back to restore the circle–bar–text order. |
| Grouping is unavailable | Make every item a floating object, ensure more than one object is selected and check that objects are not in different containers. Finish in PowerPoint if Word still refuses to group them. |
| Print is blurry or colors are poor | Check printer color and quality settings, proof on the intended paper and export a PDF before final printing. |
Can you use the official London Underground logo?
This tutorial creates editable shapes that evoke the style; it does not grant permission to use TfL’s actual roundel, artwork, Tube maps or New Johnston typeface. TfL’s guidance says use of its marks may require licensing and warns against altering, recoloring, cropping, angling or adding objects to the roundel: TfL third-party brand guidance. See TfL’s brand and licensing information for commercial, promotional, public-facing, film, product or advertising use: TfL brand and intellectual-property guidance. Do not imply TfL endorsement or affiliation, and avoid unofficial logo downloads.
Quick Recap
Save it as a reusable template
- Editable source: save a PowerPoint file as
.pptxor a Word file as.docx. - Template: keep a clean copy with placeholder text such as
STATION NAME. - Flat output: export PDF for printing and PNG for reuse in other documents. Retain the editable source even after exporting.
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