Periodic Table of Storytelling

Since I've been thinking about the intersection of science and literature, I thought I'd share the Periodic Table of Storytelling.

Periodic Table of Storytelling by Dawn Paladin/ComputerSherpa

You can find a larger version here. I really like how he used the concept behind a periodic table of elements, rather than being too strictly literal and arbitrarily forcing their categorized tropes into the precise formation of the periodic table.  Each element has a one to three character acronym and little description to describe a trope, and they are grouped in periodic table-like families. Also, I'm charmed that he's listed Tbl Parodic Table of the Elements as one of the (pale yellow) Metatropes. Ooh, self-referentiallity! Further, the atomic number is replaced by 'Popularity in kilowicks' or the number of thousands of links to its page within the wiki. At the bottom he explains how the elements bond together in various stories (only two of which I know....  so I can't really tell is there is anything more than a design choice behind the nature of the drawn bonds), much like elements in a chemical compound. This is a a Parodic Table of the Elements made with some care and love.

Elements Personified

I stumbled upon this wonderful series of illustrations of the elements personified and excited to see they are now available as flash cards on Etsy, by San Francisco illustrator Kaycie D.  She describes the project as 'Experiments in Character Design'. I would think this would make not only a lovely periodic table, but a really great way for students to familiarize themselves with the 'character' of different elements. Check out the first eight elements below.

 

Japanese artist Bunpei Yorifuji similarly created a book called Wonderful Life with the Elements: The Periodic Table Personified which illustrates each of the 118 elements, based on chemical properties, when it was discovered, and more (via BrainPickings).  

 

 

Not always personified, but always illustrated with great creativity are all the prints in the  Periodic Table Printmaking Project. You can find many of these available in my favorite Etsy science items including the ones below.

Tungsten (or Wolfram) by VizArt

Calcium - 20 by pygletwhispers

Medelevium by WingedLion

Periodic Table

The place where scientific pun meets typography meets furniture design is surprisingly lovely. A scientific toy company, Thames and Kosmos needed a conference table and put forward the clever idea that they clearly needed a Periodic Table, of the elements. The table was designed by Jackson Morley with type design and hand painting by Josie Morway. She writes, "It's 16 whopping feet long and features a large slice of the periodic table, each element hand painted (and jubilantly, by me) in a different typeface."

4/4" maple top with steel support structure. 192" x 42".
Fabricated by Jackson Morley using shop time at Keeseh Studio and the Steel Yard.

I want to know if the nature of the elements dictated the typeface designed.

Be sure to check out Josie's portfolio for beautifully painted animals and original type design. You can also find her at fruitful harm.