Typ/o

Most typefaces can be classified into one of four basic groups: those with serifs, those without serifs, scripts, and decorative styles. Over the years, typographers and scholars of typography have developed various systems to define those categories, subsequently some of these systems have scores of sub-categories. In order to bring light into the typographical maze, to make classifications possible for both—experts and non-professionals—the typ/o project was conceived as a mobile-first website for recognizing and classifying typefaces.

Its goal is not to automatically identify individual fonts, but to facilitate the learning of how to recognize their underlying formal principles. As a basis, various terms and group divisions in current international use have been relied on here. This means that slight deviations from existing norms for classifying typefaces have consciously been made.

Initiated by the design department of the University of Applied Sciences Aachen, under the direction of Prof. Eva Kubinyi and Robin Coenen, the typ/o project team conceived a mobile-first website for recognizing and classifying typefaces. typ/o is a comprehensive application with which typography can be investigated through the sections Learn, Identify, Play and Fonts. In times of digital teaching this work from about two years seems impressive and more relevant than ever.

Not to be mixed up with automatically identifying individual fonts, typ/o facilitates the learning of how to recognize their underlying formal principles. As a basis, various terms and group divisions in current international use have been relied on here. This means that slight deviations from existing norms for classifying typefaces have consciously been made.

In particular, typ/o can be used in the classroom for motivating students and fostering curiosity about investigating typography. In the Learn-section, basic information about how typefaces are grouped into categories and subcategories is presented. In the Identify-section, users can compare typefaces found in everyday life, or that they encounter in their studies, with the models shown. In the Play-section, users can check what they have learned playfully. The font catalog has a selection of more than 100 typefaces, with relevant background information.

Typ/o

Languages: English and German (French and Spanish planned)
Publisher: FH Aachen, University of Applied Sciences, Department of Design
Typefaces: Didactic selection over 100 typefaces, the website is displayed in Infini (Designed by Sandrine Nugue)
Sponsors: “Fellowship für Innovation in der digitalen Hochschullehre 2019” of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Stifterverband
Free for use
Contact
More information here

On the occasion of the virtual conference ATypI 2020 All Over, from October 27th to 31st, typ/o was presented to the public for the very first time. Check out the presentation here.