CRITICAL THINKING
WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE LIKE WITHOUT IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS?
If we were to rid the world of house and building numbers, the world would enter a state of chaos. Without the use of numerical ordering we could lose structure amongst society. We use numbers to label houses, apartments, buildings, and rooms. These numbers help us create structure. We are able to more efficiently draw maps, find locations, share information and more using the labeling structure of number identification.
Imagine a society without these numbers. Trying to find directions to a specific house without having a number, trying to find a classroom, or deliver a package. Humans would find a way to try and create organization without these numbers, but the importance of these should not go unnoticed.
ARE THERE TIMES WHERE WORD PLACEMENT BECOMES MORE RECOGNIZABLE THAN ARCHITECTURE?
CAN A BUILDING BECOME A LANDMARK VIA TYPOGRAPHY?
Landmarks and architecture are key components of directions and mental mapping, yet we have reached a place in society where some typefaces have become more identifiable than the architecture or landmark itself. Typefaces in logos and other markers have passed the importance of architecture alone.
Landmark is defined as “an object, such as a stone or tree that marks the boundary of land; a conspicuous object on land that marks a locality; an anatomical structure used as a point of orientation in locating other structures; an event or development that marks a turning point or a stage; a structure, such as a building of unusual historical and usually aesthetic interest; especially,one that is officially designated and set aside for preservation” (1). A landmark does not need to be physical. The use of typography is logos has become more identifiable as landmarks in some situations. For example, the "PLAZA ART” logo painted on the side of the wall has become a prominent identifier for locating the store. Not only is it now used to locate the store, but due to the visibility, it has become an identifier when talking location and reference points to the area. This can also be seen via the Domino Sugar building in New York City. While Domino Sugar ceased working there in the early 2000s, the building still maintains a name in association to Domino.
HOW DID THE 7 SEGMENT LED DISPLAY & DOT MATRIX IMPACT TYPOGRAPHY?
Without the use of digital fonts like the 7 segment led display or the dot matrix, our appliances and machines would lack the interface connecting our intentions to the material world. I feel numbers are often neglected in typography. I have personally experienced such neglect when using typefaces that lack a number set. Numbers are important !! We often overlook one of the most important typefaces of number, the 7 segment led display or the dot matrix. These typefaces connect us to the material tools we use on a day to day basis.
