OUGD405 - Signs and Pictograms

OUGD405

Signs and pictograms

A sign system is basically an interpretation of a space. By suggesting a way from A to B, the sign system shows its selective nature: of all possible ways to go from A to B, the sign system only shows one.

Pictograms

Pictograms are used to warn, guide or protect and need to be immediately decipherable. They must get right to the heart of the matter by visually conveying a vital piece of information in such a way that I cannot be misunderstood. They need to be internationally understood and independent of culture.

Semiotics

Semantics

A study of sign and meaning. They are dependent on context, knowledge, society and culture.

Syntactic

Formal, unambiguous, succinct.

Rules that govern the structure of how signs fit together. Expressed through: form, brightness, colour, movement, material, scale, position and shape.

Pragmatics

How context contributes meaning to the symbol.

Indicative – may smoke but don’t have to, it is up to the receiver what they do with this information

Imperative – Influences the receiver’s behaviour. In this context smoking is prohibited.

Suggestive – sets off feelings within the receiver. Represents an appeal to stop smoking for reasons of health, regardless of time or place.

Basic signs

The square

Square standing on a corner – disquieting – positioned on its point indicates a certain intention, which is why it is used for traffic signs.

The Triangle

When placed on a vertical apex, it obtains a direction giving character. Succeeds as long as the directions are horizontal, left or right.

Equilateral triangles are idea for signals due to their symmetry. Triangle with horizontal base conveys an impression of stability and permanence.

The Circle

Signals are addressed more strongly. Enclosure by a circle becomes disquieting and feels claustrophobic.

The Arrow

Expresses movement or direction. Angles pointing up or down have a stronger movement than those pointing up or down because human movement id normally on a level.

Underground and Subway map and sign system

Harry Beck design of the London Underground system (1933) is much more simple that its predecessor which was designed by F.H. Stingemore. The central area of the underground is enlarged in comparison to outlying areas, this is so that complicated connections in the centre could be more clearly shown. The lines are limited to verticals, horizontals and 45 degree angles. (abandonment of geographical accuracy)

Massimo Vignelli designed New York Subway map in 1972. The aim of his signage plan was to deliver the necessary information at the point of decision, never before or after. His subway map includes very similar principles to that of Beck. Each line was represented by a colour, each stop represented by a dot.

Mexico City metro signs

Designed in 1969 by Lance Wyman. The pictograms for Mexico City Metro brought radical thinking to the design of a new public transport system. The symbols can be expressed verbally. Metro passengers could then travel from grasshopper to duck, via eagle head and fountain. The station identification symbols needed to be read by people with poor or non-existent literacy skills and non-Spanish visitors. Each station is represented by pictograms that can be expressed verbally. This way language translation was not needed.

Other examples of wayfinding:

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

Fachhochshule Osnabruck