tipomap.lat

The Whomp typeface family is an exercise in visual archaeology and reconstruction based on the work of the master American sign painter Alf Becker. Unlike conventional digitizations that misinterpret Becker’s work as original “typefaces,” Whomp acknowledges its origins in hand-drawn lettering and commercial calligraphy from the 1930s. The project, led by Alejandro Paul, takes on the challenge of extrapolating a complete and functional system from isolated fragments found in historical signage. In this way, Whomp transcends mere copying to become an academic interpretation that preserves Becker’s vision: the letter not as a static sign, but as a living, mutable structure in constant formal evolution.