Jock Kinneir studied painting and engraving at Chelsea School of Art (London) in the 1930s. He then joined the Central Office of Information, working mainly on exhibitions, then worked at the Design Research Unit, prior to setting up his own practice in 1956. From 1958, he worked closely with Margaret Calvert. Through a chance meeting, he was asked to design signage for Gatwick Airport (1957–58). In 1958, Preston motorway opened. By 1964, the new system, using lower-case lettering, had been extended to cover the entire network, and was much copied in other parts of the world. Further signing commissions followed, including British Rail (1965; also adopted by Danish Rail), British Airports (1965–72). 1960–65: Head of Graphic Design, Royal College of Art. 1963: Kinneir Design Associates. 1964: Kinneir Calvert and Associates. 1972: Kinneir Calvert Tuhill Ltd. 1979: Jock retired to work on personal projects. He was the author of Words and Buildings (Architectural Press, 1980).