Margaret Calvert studied illustration at Chelsea School of Art in the 1950s. After leaving Chelsea, she was invited to join Jock Kinneir (her tutor), to assist on the design of signs for Gatwick Airport. Worked with Jock on the UK’s road signage system. Major projects included designing an integrated lettering and signing system for British Rail, British Airports, and the Tyne and Wear Metro. Collaborated with Monotype to produce the typeface Calvert, released in 1981, based on lettering designed for the Metro and later adapted for the Royal College of Art, 1992. Designed the typeface A26 (based on traffic signs), for FUSE, 1994. Won a D&AD Silver Award for the David Hockney book Travels with Pen, Pencil and Ink, 1978. She taught part-time at the Royal College of Art (1966–2001) and was head of graphic design at the RCA (1987–91). She is a senior fellow of the RCA, fellow of the University of the Arts, London and an honorary doctor of the University of Brighton.