Tom Eckersley was born in Lowton, Lancashire, in 1914 and studied at Salford College of Art. He began his first career in London, together with Eric Lombers in 1935, designing for London Transport, Shell Mex, BBC, General Post Office and many other important companies.  Eckersley was a member of the Society of Artists and Designers and a Royal Designer for Industry and the Society of Typographic Designers. As well as a designer, he was head of the Department of Design, London College of Printing, and a member of the graphic judging panel for the diplomas in Art and Design.