Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

This one is very reminiscent of Soviet times. It’s the stencil type that can be often spotted in Yerevan. It’s what the cobbler used as a sign for his small shop. Literally translated, it says ‘Shoe Repair’. There are some curious things going on though. For one, the two words are written in two very different fonts. The first is a strict bold typeface, while the second is a very elegant one. The next curious thing is the icon of a boot next to the word ‘Shoe’ and a few icons of sewing machines. This shows how independent workers didn’t really need formal signs, as they were already known by their location and word of mouth recommendations.

Location

25 Derenik Demirtchyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia