Graphic Symbolism and Visual Language

Signs, Symbols and other forms of visual language are a key part of our daily lives and have played a significant part throughout history. The evolution from visual language to written langue occurred due to limitations and restrictions of symbols. A symbol can be misinterpreted or have too many meaning, so over time a written form of communication developed to match the complexities of speech.

Fig 1. Hat Symbols

Fig 2. Assembly of many possible interpretation of a candlestick. Signs and Symbols

When researching I was intrigues by Fig 2 and all the different ways a single object could be represented. I explored a similar path using a hat as my given object (Fig1). This experimentation made me aware of how powerful lines and shapes are in communicating, even a line and a square could represent a hat.

The key to symbols and visual shorthand is familiarity, when looking at figurative symbols. If you’re not aware of an object, and of its basic shape, then you have no hope in understanding what its visual representation means.

A symbol and a Sign are made up of key elements:

• Dot
• Line
• Negative and solid space
• Colour
• Relationship between all the above

Colour is key apart of graphic symbols today. It has a powerful role in advertising and road signs. We associate different colours with different feelings and situations. For example red represents; danger, anger and romance. Whereas blue represents; cold and sadness.

Here are some more example of how important a role can play when it comes to designing and symbolising: (taken from designintense.com[1])

• Traffic lights: Red means stop, yellow means caution, and green means go. Yellow signs also warn drivers of upcoming curves, pedestrian crossings, and animal crossings.
• Patriotism: Most, if not all countries have a flag. The colours of each flag are usually seen as patriotic. Red, white, and blue symbolizes patriotism in the U.K as well as other countries.
• Holidays: Red and green are favourite Christmas colours. Black and orange are associated with Halloween. Pastel colours are used for Easter.
• Emotions: Blue is seen as conservative. Red is power and aggression. Brighter colour such as yellow and orange represent warmth not only with emotions but also with temperature. Cool colours are blue, green, black or any colour with a dark shade.
• Ecology: Green is the major colour symbolizing ecology. The new phrase for people or companies who find ways to cut back on electricity, fuel, or things that damage the environment is “going green.”

The website also sheds some light on what we associate with different shapes:

Colour is only a part of symbolism of course, the other part is shape/form. Some common shapes and their symbolism in western culture are:

• circle — feminine (womb), encompassing, whole, nurturing
• square — order, balance, structure, building block
• vertical shapes — phallic, masculine, upward motion, rocket
• horizontal shapes — rest, distance, traveling1

Through a combination of using colour, shape, line and association we have created a sophisticated way of communicating visually that has influenced road signs, advertisement and other signs.

Bibliography

Design Intense. 'Symbolism in Design | Design Intense'. Designintense.com. Web. 28 Mar. 2015.

Frutiger, Adrian. London: Studio Editions, 1989. Print.

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[1] http://designintense.com/symbolism-in-design/