Specimens of time · 120 / 120 specimens · 10 ideas · A-series 1:√2

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Case study · Programmatic design

Specimens of time

120 posters inspired by the theories of physics, made from one set of rules: a grid, a type scale and a formula for each drawing.

  1. Poster 01·B5 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B5№ 001
  2. Poster 02·B9 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B9№ 018
  3. Poster 03·B9·D for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B9·D№ 035
  4. Poster 04·B10 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B10№ 040
  5. Poster 05·A6·D for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·A6·D№ 057
  6. Poster 09·B5 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B5№ 097Time is not fundamental
  7. Poster 06·A6 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·A6№ 062
  8. Poster 07·A3 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·A3№ 079
  9. Poster 08·A3·D for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·A3·D№ 096
  10. Poster 09·B2 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B2№ 101
  11. Poster 10·B2·D for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B2·D№ 118
  12. Poster 04·B2 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B2№ 041
  13. Poster 05·B2·D for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B2·D№ 058
  14. Poster 06·B6 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B6№ 063
  15. Poster 09·B9 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B9№ 102
  16. Poster 03·A3·D for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·A3·D№ 036
  17. Poster 07·A5 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·A5№ 080
  18. Poster 01·A6 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·A6№ 002
  19. Poster 02·A3 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·A3№ 019
  20. Poster 07·A6·D for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·A6·D№ 081
  21. Poster 08·A6 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·A6№ 086
  22. Poster 10·B5 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B5№ 109
  23. Poster 03·A5 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·A5№ 032Fields
  24. Poster 09·A3 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·A3№ 103
  25. Poster 01·B10 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B10№ 004
  26. Poster 10·A3·D for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·A3·D№ 120
  27. Poster 01·B6 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B6№ 003
  28. Poster 02·A6·D for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·A6·D№ 021
  29. Poster 03·A6 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·A6№ 026
  30. Poster 05·A3·D for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·A3·D№ 060
  31. Poster 02·A5 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·A5№ 020
  32. Poster 08·B6 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B6№ 087
  33. Poster 03·B5 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B5№ 025
  34. Poster 05·B9·D for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B9·D№ 059
  35. Poster 09·A5 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·A5№ 104
  36. Poster 07·B9·D for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B9·D№ 083
  37. Poster 06·A3·D for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·A3·D№ 072Quanta
  38. Poster 04·B9 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B9№ 042
  39. Poster 06·B10 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B10№ 064
  40. Poster 03·B6 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B6№ 027
  41. Poster 04·A3 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·A3№ 043
  42. Poster 04·A5 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·A5№ 044
  43. Poster 06·B2 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B2№ 065
  44. Poster 09·A6·D for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·A6·D№ 105
  45. Poster 05·B5 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B5№ 049
  46. Poster 01·A3 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·A3№ 007Grains of matter
  47. Poster 06·B9 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B9№ 066
  48. Poster 08·B10 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B10№ 088
  49. Poster 02·B2·D for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B2·D№ 022
  50. Poster 10·A6 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·A6№ 110
  51. Poster 01·B2 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B2№ 005
  52. Poster 07·A3·D for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·A3·D№ 084
  53. Poster 06·A3 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·A3№ 067
  54. Poster 09·B2·D for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B2·D№ 106
  55. Poster 08·B2 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B2№ 089
  56. Poster 10·B6 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B6№ 111
  57. Poster 01·B9 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B9№ 006
  58. Poster 02·B9·D for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B9·D№ 023
  59. Poster 08·B5 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B5№ 085Quanta of space
  60. Poster 03·B10 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B10№ 028
  61. Poster 04·A6·D for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·A6·D№ 045
  62. Poster 05·A6 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·A6№ 050
  63. Poster 09·B9·D for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B9·D№ 107
  64. Poster 10·B10 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B10№ 112
  65. Poster 02·A3·D for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·A3·D№ 024
  66. Poster 03·B2 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B2№ 029
  67. Poster 04·B2·D for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B2·D№ 046
  68. Poster 06·A5 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·A5№ 068
  69. Poster 07·B5 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B5№ 073
  70. Poster 08·B9 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B9№ 090
  71. Poster 06·B2·D for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B2·D№ 070
  72. Poster 05·B6 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B6№ 051
  73. Poster 05·B2 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B2№ 053
  74. Poster 07·B6 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B6№ 075
  75. Poster 05·B9 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B9№ 054Spacetime is a field
  76. Poster 04·B9·D for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B9·D№ 047
  77. Poster 08·A5 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·A5№ 092
  78. Poster 02·B5 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B5№ 013
  79. Poster 01·A6·D for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·A6·D№ 009
  80. Poster 03·B9 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B9№ 030
  81. Poster 06·A6·D for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·A6·D№ 069
  82. Poster 02·A6 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·A6№ 014
  83. Poster 05·B10 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·B10№ 052
  84. Poster 02·B2 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B2№ 017Space and time as a stage
  85. Poster 10·B9 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B9№ 114
  86. Poster 07·A6 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·A6№ 074
  87. Poster 09·A3·D for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·A3·D№ 108
  88. Poster 03·A3 for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·A3№ 031
  89. Poster 08·A3 for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·A3№ 091
  90. Poster 10·B2 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B2№ 113
  91. Poster 04·A3·D for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·A3·D№ 048
  92. Poster 08·A6·D for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·A6·D№ 093
  93. Poster 01·A5 for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·A5№ 008
  94. Poster 10·B9·D for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·B9·D№ 119Before the Big Bang, inside black holes
  95. Poster 09·A6 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·A6№ 098
  96. Poster 10·A3 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·A3№ 115
  97. Poster 01·B2·D for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B2·D№ 010
  98. Poster 06·B9·D for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B9·D№ 071
  99. Poster 02·B6 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B6№ 015
  100. Poster 07·B10 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B10№ 076
  101. Poster 04·B5 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B5№ 037
  102. Poster 01·B9·D for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·B9·D№ 011
  103. Poster 02·B10 for idea 02, “Space and time as a stage”: orbits of cannonballs launched at increasing speeds around a small Earth.02·B10№ 016
  104. Poster 03·A6·D for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·A6·D№ 033
  105. Poster 04·B6 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·B6№ 039The extended present
  106. Poster 04·A6 for idea 04, “The extended present”: a light cone crossed by hyperbolas of equal spacetime interval.04·A6№ 038
  107. Poster 05·A3 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·A3№ 055
  108. Poster 07·B2 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B2№ 077
  109. Poster 08·B2·D for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B2·D№ 094
  110. Poster 09·B6 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B6№ 099
  111. Poster 10·A5 for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·A5№ 116
  112. Poster 05·A5 for idea 05, “Spacetime is a field”: an orbit that does not close, tracing a rosette.05·A5№ 056
  113. Poster 06·B5 for idea 06, “Quanta”: two sets of concentric rings overlapping in an interference pattern.06·B5№ 061
  114. Poster 07·B2·D for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B2·D№ 082Spacetime is quantum
  115. Poster 08·B9·D for idea 08, “Quanta of space”: a network of nodes joined by links.08·B9·D№ 095
  116. Poster 07·B9 for idea 07, “Spacetime is quantum”: a smooth curve that turns into a staircase.07·B9№ 078
  117. Poster 09·B10 for idea 09, “Time is not fundamental”: a thin-line plot of two swinging pendulums drawn against each other.09·B10№ 100
  118. Poster 10·A6·D for idea 10, “Before the Big Bang, inside black holes”: curves that fall toward a point and rebound, against a sharp V.10·A6·D№ 117
  119. Poster 01·A3·D for idea 01, “Grains of matter”: the jagged path of a grain pushed about by unseen molecules.01·A3·D№ 012
  120. Poster 03·B2·D for idea 03, “Fields”: the looping field lines of a bar magnet.03·B2·D№ 034

About this case study

Specimens of time is a programme: a set of rules that produces 120 posters. The idea comes from Karl Gerstner’s Designing Programmes, where the designer works out the rules and the solutions follow from them. The rules here are a 12-column grid, an 8 px baseline and type sized by cap height. Each of ten physics ideas has a drawing computed from a real formula, and twelve layouts. The photographs are public domain, and every one is numbered like a specimen.