In his early years, Christian Barman studied Architecture at Liverpool University and briefly worked in the offices of renowned architect Edwin Lutyens. He held editorial positions in various journals, including the Architectural Press and The Architectural Review, while also running his own architectural and design practice. During this time, Barman designed a metal electric fan heater for HMV, and replicas of this design are now part of the permanent collections at MoMA and The Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1935, Barman was appointed as the publicity officer for Transport for London, where he commissioned artists like Enid Marx to create artwork for posters, leaflets, advertisements, bus stops, and seats. In recognition of his contributions to the fields of transport and design, Barman was awarded an OBE in 1963, and the iconic 'Barman Moquette' designed by Wallace & Sewell in 2010 bears his name today and is used to cover seats on the Jubilee, Central and Bakerloo lines.