Trajan's Column

Trajan’s Column, built in Rome in 113 AD, is a perfect example of how design works as three dimensions objects. Even though it is a giant stone sculpture, its function is exactly the same as a modern infographic or storyboard. The column is wrapped in a 200 meter long carving that tells the story of Emperor Trajan’s victory in war. It shows thousands of soldiers, battles, and equipment in a specific time order.

At that time, most people were not able read or write. Therefore, the column acted as a powerful communication tool to persuade the public and show the greatness of the Empire through images. It not about using stone as medium instead of paper. The main goal was to tell a complex story in a way that everyone could see and understand. The way of design was chosen with the purpose. Trajan’s Column reminds us that graphic design is not limited to flat surfaces, it's all about communicating.

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The lettering carved at the base is the inspiration for the 1989 eponymous digital typeface by Carol Twombly. Many other interpretations exist before hers as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajan_(typeface)