Margaret Calvert: Woman at Work

Margaret Calvert: Woman at WorkMargaret Calverts influence on British design is impossible to overlook. Best known for her work with Jock Kinneir on the UKs road signage system, her clear, highly legible typefaces and distinctive pictograms have guided generations of travellers and become a familiar part of everyday life. Their work not only transformed Britains roads but also set the standard for highway signage around the world. Beyond her celebrated career as a graphic designer,

Margaret Calvert’s influence on British design is impossible to overlook. Best known for her work with Jock Kinneir on the UK’s road signage system, her clear, highly legible typefaces and distinctive pictograms have guided generations of travellers and become a familiar part of everyday life. Their work not only transformed Britain’s roads but also set the standard for highway signage around the world.

Beyond her celebrated career as a graphic designer, Calvert has been a hugely influential educator. During her time at the Royal College of Art, she helped shape a generation of designers, many of whom have gone on to achieve international acclaim. Today, she continues to work from her home studio, taking on projects that reflect her enduring passion for design.

This beautifully produced monograph, the first dedicated entirely to her work, traces the full breadth of Calvert’s remarkable career. Featuring rare material from her personal archive, insights into her most iconic typefaces and reflections on her early life in South Africa and the UK, it offers a fascinating portrait of one of Britain’s most important designers. Designed by Margaret Calvert alongside A2/SW/HK, and edited by Adrian Shaughnessy, the book is an essential addition for anyone interested in graphic design, typography and visual culture.

Extent: 256 pp
Format: PLC (no jacket)
Illustrations: 207
Publication date: 2026-02-12
Size: 28.5 x 21.0 cm
ISBN: 9780500030448