Typography 

The history of typography reflects an ongoing tension between the hand and the machine, the organic and the geometric, the human body and the abstract system. These tensions, which marked the arrival of printed letters some 500 years ago, continue to fuel typography today. This art and technique of arranging type (aka letters or symbols), has a fascinating history that spans centuries. From the earliest forms of written communication to the digital age, typography has not only shaped the way we read and understand text but has also become an indispensable element of design.

Typography finds its roots in ancient civilizations, where writing systems evolved from pictorial symbols to more abstract characters. The earliest known examples include cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphics in Egypt. It was much later with the invention of the printing press in the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg that revolutionised the dissemination of information. Movable type, with individually cast characters, allowed for faster and more efficient printing, making books accessible to a wider audience and having an astronomical impact of the rise of literacy. Typography became essential in creating visually pleasing and readable texts, leading to the rise of various typefaces and printing traditions.