OUGD405 - Pictogram Research

Pictograms are incredibly important for signage. It allows you to create signage that can be instantly recognisable instead of having to read a description. Often in different societies, the pictograms are recognisable as a physical object and are recognisable across a nation.

The most common pictograms are among toilets to determine the different gender, but even more common than this is road signs use of pictograms. Many of the pictograms and typography used in todays road signs in the UK, were designed by Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir. She was appointed to design an easy to understand road sign system for the UK in 1957. She designed many pictograms and a typeface for the road signs.

These pictogram signs are understood intuitively. One of the best examples of this is the toilet pictogram. The simple gingerbread style man and woman can determine the most confusing of questions: which toilet to go into? If you get the answer wrong it could be awkward. These semantics allow the entire world to determine which toilet they are supposed to enter. It is so successful because it requires no language skills.

Pictograms are so successful they can be used in any environment. When I looked into shopping centres and galleries pictograms were used in this environment too. They can visually direct people or inform them on information simply by using a recognisable symbol. For example in the shopping centres it can direct you to an elevator or a lift or the stairs.

In the galleries they are used at the entrance doors to tell you you aren't allowed to use your phone in the gallery or camera. They also tell you not to smoke. This is done by putting a strike through the pictogram. This is also recognisable instantly by everyone as a negative. the majority of the time a strike through a pictogram means you cannot do something.