Good design, good journey

Peter Hirt and Janne Igls Andersen’s 1985 logo for HT.

Logo, HT, Peter Hirt & Janne Igls Andersen, 1985

The story of the “Capital Region's Traffic Company”, Hovedstadsområdets Trafikselskab (HT), begins in 1974, with the takeover of 12 publicly owned (or majority owned) bus companies. Beginning operations on the 1st October that year, it would be Denmark’s first regional transport company and responsible for public buses in Copenhagen’s Capital City area. Owing to the various manufacturers and age of the near 1000 bus fleet, HT set about standardising it with repaints.

Their 10-year anniversary was marked with growing pains, which were further exacerbated by several drivers’ strikes in early 1980s which had resulted in high-profile legal conflicts. Change was in order. An underlying belief for Hovedstadsområdets Trafikselskab (HT) was that good design would create a good travelling experience. “A bus with happy, well coordinated colours, with comfortable seats, and surfaces which are pleasant to touch, all contribute to making the journey an experience.” said Erik Davidsen, of the Greater Copenhagen Traffic Board.