Onion model of types

Our model is used to show up the development of typefaces in a novel as being obvious manner. We start with an earth globe, what allows a geographical definition of the living points of the designerns and punchcutters (for example Giambattista Bodoni in Parma, Italy) as well as of type companies and foundries, combining this information with a time axis from out of the center.

This globe is showing up the present time on the surface, while preserving older times in the inner shapes. All in one, we’ve got the “onion model of types”. This model should be able to show new contexts and cross connections as well as being a resource for new attempts of comparing.

If someone is interested about typefaces and punchcutters in Italy, one later can zoom into the globe, looking up relevant landscapes and typographers living there at that time, while having access to context information like pictures, type specimens, historical buildings and so on.

 

Pictures, from top to bottom:

a) “Onion model of types”

b) Time line

c) Typographical “Hot spots”