Icons symbol signs

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.

The meaning of a symbol has to be learned. It isn’t always apparent in the drawing.


Hobo symbols were used to communicate to other hobos.


Departing Flights Bus Transportation

Air Transportation Car Rental

Baggage Check / Claim

Baggage Locker Rental

Pictograms conveys its meaning through its pictorial resemblance to a physical object



Icons are restricted to graphical representation of familiar things, not necessarily objects, and one can easily understand what they stand for.



Logo type

logo symbol Combination mark

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.What are the most memorable attributes of airplane flight? Why do people choose it over a train or bus? The arrow or chevron, and diagonal lines symbolize flight and speed. The circle, often used to brand an airline, oceangoing vessels, or travel agency, signifies globe-spanning capability.

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.Does this font, and do these shapes, suggest flight or speed? What else do they suggest to you?

Using Symbols

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. USING SYMBOLSIf a symbol is an image of an object or being, it should be simplified to the point where the important attributes attributes remain to support the message and help visual recognition. These designers show the ‘braid’ shape of an ear of wheat, and added gold and green colors, associated with wheat and crops.

Wheat Belt IndustriesCanadian Wheat BoardInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. USING SYMBOLSWhen designing a symbol, the choice of color and degree of detail will depend on the type of product or service, the audience being reached, how the symbol will be used, and how the logo will be reproduced. What if the logo will be printed in a small format, embroidered, or stamped into plastic or metal?

Harvest Capital, LLC Pasta Canada(trade association)

Celiac Sprue Association(for people with wheat allergy)

Reisig Seeds(seed wheat producer)

Wheat Ridge Ministries ‘Seeding Health and Hope’

Wheat Penny

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. USING SYMBOLSThe purpose of a symbol is to illustrate one or more important attributes of the product or service being branded. Why was the butterfly chosen for the brands below?

Network of Web servicesincluding instant messenger, news

Record company.Founders’ names: Chris Wright and Terry Ellis


Women and children’s shelter Table tennis products mfr.

Scents and bath oils

Why was the butterfly chosen for the brands below?

USING SYMBOLS

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. USING SYMBOLS


Old logo. New logo.

CUSTOM FONTS

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.These logos were all designed by the same small design company. They are shown online in the company’s portfolio. What do you think of the designers’ use of graphic elements?

ADDING GRAPHIC ELEMENTS

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.Does this logo ‘read’ differently in color?

WORKING WITH VALUE & COLOR


Clothing and gear for climbing and extreme environments

The photograph shows the North Face of Half Dome, at Yosemite National Park. The North Face is a famous challenge for rock climbers, 3,000 feet of sheer rock face. This view is at a slight angle to the northwest. Do you see how a side view of Half Dome could be simplified to create the symbol below?

USING SYMBOLS


Clothing and gear for climbing and extreme environments

The logo below shows a very jagged mountain range. The actual mountains of Patagonia, a section of the Andes, are indeed very jagged and remote, a formidable challenge for climbers and hikers.

USING SYMBOLS


Insurance company.

Insurance company.

USING SYMBOLS




Design firm Forestry high school

USING SYMBOLS


engineering and constructionRobel Steel Manufacturer of steel structures.

Design, manufacture and installation of steel structures

Both of the images below are fairly realistic, three-dimensional illustrations of the product or service, even though they have been simplified to their basic components.

USING SYMBOLS


Frank Nesslage, photographer

Designed by Stephen Dziallas. Nesslage, in German, means Lake Ness, or ‘Loch’ Ness.

USING SYMBOLS

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. USING SYMBOLSThree different symbols for ‘Mercury.’ What images or ideas are the source for these symbols?What is Mercury? What does Mercury stand for?



sports and exercise shoes and apparel

BRANDING APPLIEDWhy did this designer choose these shapes, or ‘stripes’ to represent the company? What is adidas famous for?

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.This is one of the best-known marks in the U.S. Why did this designer choose an ‘eye’ to represent the company? What is CBS famous for?Designed by W. Golden around 1950.

BRANDING APPLIED


Suite of software applications.

Microsoft repeated the colors and basic relationship between type and shapes in the Windows logo, to create the Microsoft Office logo. This ties the parent brand very closely to the product, while supporting the message that all the Microsoft Office programs work together.

Personal computer operating system.

BRANDING APPLIED

Microsoft News web site.

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. BRANDING APPLIED


SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS.This logo was designed by Duffy Worldwide to help the Bahamas increase tourism. What do the shapes and colors suggest? What feeling do they create? What do they refer to?

BRANDING APPLIED

SYMBOLS. ICONS. PICTOGRAMS. BRANDING APPLIEDSymbol family created to illustrate advertising for the Bahamas tourism industry. These symbols use shapes and weights that are similar to the Bahamas logo. In addition, the logo shapes are repeated to create background patterns for ads and brochures, which helps unify the campaign and create a consistent message.

