The principle of effective pictogram
PICTOGRAM
Designed by Fang-Jung Pei
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The principle of effective pictogram
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PICTOGRAM
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About the Author I have been studying in Visual Communication Master's degree in Birmingham City University since 2014/2015. In the course, I specialised in the use of graphic design and the knowledge of wayfinding as a communicator can directly represent the ideas and concepts of the image that a creator wants to express.
All right reserved. Respect copyrights, be creativity! For more information, please visit fangjungpei.com Designed by Fang-Jung Pei Proofreading by Christy Eposi Ndumbe Made in United Kingdom
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Pictogram Contents
Contents The principle of effective pictogram
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Use the key below to help navigate the guide section by section.
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Introduction
P
Principles
E
Examples
D
Design References
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06 - 07
08 - 011
Introduction
Principles
Need to know
The principle of effective pictogram
Pictogram Contents
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D
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012 - 019
020 - 023
024 - 025
Examples
Design
References
The example of pictogram design
Designing the pictogram
The knowledge of this book
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Pictogram Introduction
Introduction Need to know
Pictogram is everywhere. We are surrounded by it and it is delivered to us in diverse ways. From the moment we get up in the morning, we engage with pictogram that has been designed for specific purpose; the symbols on the street to guide people; the symbolic system in the airport. We are constantly engaging with the communication of pictogram design.
The structure of the book Basic
The basic thesis of this publication is: what is pictogram design? Why is pictogram necessary? The book is structured so one can read the chapters sequentially or dip into the specific areas covered as and when required.
The reader will be guided through the fundamentals of pictogram and visual examples.You will be prepared with inspirational visual examples and shown why symbol is so important in our lives. The visual examples offer brilliant insights into the communication of graphic elements. My goal is to teach how to design the To demonstrate the diversity of the subject I have used analytical methods effective and intuitive pictogram to enhance users’ experience. to analyze visual examples, the purpose is to show the details of the pictogram design, and allow as seeing the fundamentals of pictogram. What is pictogram design? The aim of this book is to explore the principle of effective pictogram design. This knowledge will better prepare myself as a designer to produce effective solutions to the design challenges within my own study and practice.
The aim in this book is to provide an inspirational guide to the discipline of symbols, not just an introduction to the theories of pictogram, but a book that includes methods and knowledge on the use of experimenting to express the key of pictogram design. Therefore, I want to investigate the pictogram design knowing how the pictogram communicate with viewers by using visual image to deliver simplify and intuitive message.
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Definition
A pictogram is a symbol that conveys its meaning through the most simple and efficient way to convey a message or an idea. Rand (n.d.) stated that “it is in terms of symbolic, concrete forms that the designer ultimately realizes his perceptions and experiences, and it is in a world of symbols that the average man lives. The symbol thus becomes a common language between artist and spectator.”
Pictogram Introduction
Why is pictogram necessary? Necessity
In a large space, visitors come from different countries and culture; Symbols are common language that speaks to everyone. Thus, symbols are powerful graphic tools because they can communicate visually. In the wayfinding, pictograms are the essential tools because pictograms can speak so much more succinctly; when pictograms corporate in signage system will be more effective. Pictogram design in practice Example
Symbols are the way of communication, and problem solving through the use of image and colour. According to Coates and Ellison (2014) information is everywhere and we are not always aware of how much thought has gone into its visualization. A pictogram directly depict relatively simple concept of a real object. Think of this pictogram below in our lives; the meaning of this pictogram is a female and a male.
“ Symbols provide a shorthand pictorial representation of a place, a service, or an action.The man and woman icons for public toilets are probably the most pervasive public symbols.� (Gibson, 2009)
See figure one, We can see that a graphic symbol conveys information through simplified representation. Figure 1: clipartbest website (toliet pictogram)
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Pictogram Principles
General principles
Principles The principle of effective pictogram
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Simplify: Pictogram should be understood easily and quickly. Contrast: Contrast elements of pictogram can be recognised well. Group: Elements should link to each other and form a family. Intuitive: Pictograms directly illustrate relatively simple concept.
Colours principles -
Colour should be saturated and bright. Colour should be simple and overlapping colours should be avoided. Colour should be recognizable by choosing a representative colour. Consistency of the colour leads to effective communication.
If the same colour is used repeatedly to depict the same thing, and the user understands what that colour represents then they can recognize it immediately. Design outcomes -
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List of key pictogram design principles. Recognise the effective pictogram. Define pictogram and practice to establish key principles. Demonstrate the principle through the brief. Design an effective family resembling pictogram.
Pictogram Principles
Figure 2: London pictogram by Fang-Jung Pei
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Pictogram Formal research
Formal research Methods
For “The principle of effective pictogram design� the following research methods include: 1. Pure research: for the purpose of enhancing my understanding of the pictogram design. 2. Qualitative research: the goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the key principles of designing effective pictograms. 3. Primary research: it involves me, the researcher. I have reflected on my experience and I have tried to go in depth to study and see the pictograms in different places, e.g. airports, hotels, museums, Olympic game websites. I have used the 5 analytical methods to learn more details about this area. 4. Observational research: analysis and comparison between the public and Olympic pictograms also looking different place pictograms to see how they work. 5. Secondary research: from external sources I have used websites, publishing books and YouTube video. In order to understand pictograms, I will collect as much information as I can about how to design an effective, simple and intuitive pictogram.
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Pictogram Formal research
Figure 3-6: London pictogram by Fang-Jung Pei
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Pictogram Examples
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Examples The example of pictogram design
Olympic Pictograms Rio 2016 Rio has launched Olympic and Paralympic pictograms of 2016. According to Rio 2016 official website the pictograms allow people from all parts of the world to immediately identify sports and are used to guide and inform the public, for example in venues signpostings and on tickets. Lula (2013) pointed put that from now until 2016, the pictograms will serve as a communication platform for the promotion of the sports, for partner activations, and will be present in all the Games’ visual identity, including their application in venue decoration, signposting, tickets and licensed products, among other things.
Figure 7: Rio 2016 official website (Olympic and Paralympic pictograms)
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Pictogram Examples
Concept
Process
- The letters and numbers of the Rio 2016 logo and the core of the Games. - Passion and transformation. - Link to The Olympic and Paralympic brands.
- {Bodies + sport equipment (in a continuous stoke)}= characters - Characters + {visual language (pebble shape)}= pictogram The sketch development of the boxing pictogram.
The pictogram’s figure is based on each sport’s main movement.
The font represents elements based on the outlines of Rio 1. The calçadão de Copacabana (Copacabana promenade), which is depicted in the letters ‘m’ and ‘n’.
The creative process of the Olympic shooting pictogram.
Figure 8: Rio 2016 official website / Dalton Maag
2. The Pedra da Gávea (a mountain in Rio de Janeiro), which is depicted in the letter ‘r’. The letters are drawn with a single, continuous stroke, an agile and fluid movement that suggests the movement of athletes. (Rio 2016 official website, 2013)
Figure 9-11: Rio 2016 official website /Alex Ferro
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Pictogram Examples
2 Olympic Pictograms Mexico City 1968 The most distinct features of the Mexico Olympic pictogram is only a part of the athlete’s body or the equipment. It means that only a part of the feature can represent the main concept. The pictograms are inspired from Mexico culture and history. According to the graphic designer Lance Wyman “Our sport icons focused on an expressive detail, a part of the athlete’s body or a piece of equipment, creating images similar to glyphs found in Mexican preHispanic cultures.” We relied heavily on the sport icons as communicators that could cross cultural and language barriers. Language problems associated with guiding and informing participants and the general public were minimized through the use of concise Olympic symbology. A group of Olympic Identity Program designers collaborated on the creation of these symbols, which were employed to designate the events and installations forboth the sports program and the Cultural Olympiad. (Acclimatization Required for Olympic Athletes in 1968 Mexico City Games, 1964)
Graphic Designer: Lance Wyman
Figure 12: Mexico City 1968 official website
Concept - A part of the athlete’s body or a piece of equipment - Creating images similar to glyphs found in Mexican pre Hispanic cultures - The water used for the aquatic discipline - The sailing recalls the parallel lines - Inspired by the art of Huichol Indians (Olympic studies Centre, 2014)
Figure 13: shamanism website / Huichol Visionary Works of Art
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Pictogram Examples
3 Airport Doha's New International Airport Pictogram which help visitors to indicate signs, find their way around, were applied to all the lounges and the public activity nodes of the New International Hamad Airport in Qatar. According to designtaxi website (2014) this brilliant work came from a brief to design an identity for the large public space with a workflow that involved coordinated complexity. Each pictogram is customized with its own distinct peculiarity, but still consistent with the entire series.
Concept Taking their starting cue from the shape of the airport (as drawn up in a simplified master plan), the designers ensured a coherent, consistent language applied to the entire set of pictograms.
Designer: Milan-based design studio FM Milano
Figure 14-15: Designtaxi website 2014
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Pictogram Examples
4 Airport Aena airport operator
Concept
Aena is the world’s number one airport operator in terms of passenger traffic. The needs of Aena are unique, making the brand recognizable across all applications; and clear, serving as a visual guide for airport users. Symbols are a universal language, particularly suitable as a way to communicate information in an international environment. Symbols illustrate the various services and functions of the airport which are the main brand element. (Biográfica, 2015) Designer: Biográfica, a design and creative studio.
- Logo: The logo is the identifier and should appear as a signature, not as a visual element. The use of the logo as a visual element would cause a counterproductive repetitive effect. While still a main identifying element, they established a measured use, to be employed with other elements of Aena’s visual language.
Typeface: Neo Sans
Figure 16-18: biografica website 2015
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- Colour: Green is the brand’s recognizable sign, in the midst of an airport’s visual noise. This colour stands out and highlights the essential, even in areas with high concentrations of white or dark grey. - In the symbols lines and points are used to create small stories called “narratives.” To explain services and illustrate messages.
Pictogram Examples
5 Hotel Al Sole Hotel The concept was developed from the construction of the building because of the need for an identification system for different illumination types, locations and the interaction between people and spaces. The pictogram systems allow people to identify each single place, from bedrooms to the wine cellar, from the smoking area to the spa facilities. Designer: Davide Mottes and Jacopo Marcolini
Figure 19-21: dailyinspiration by Davide Mottes
Navigation tool
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Pictogram Examples
6 Museum Olympic Museum The Olympic Museum's new identity is rooted in the idea of transmitting and sharing. “We had to acknowledge the fact that we were dealing with one of the most powerful brands in the world: the five Olympic rings,” claimed Thierry, the partner at Base Design who led the project. “This symbol is so strong, you have no other option than to let it live in the mind of the audience. The second step was to understand that the museum was not about sports! It’s a museum about the Olympic idea, the culture and the wonderful stories.” Designer: Thierry Brunfaut
Concept The goal of this project is to develop a simple line graphic. - Relay (transmit) - Telling stories that people want to hear. - Generosity (generosity) - Building confidence and closeness with visiting placing him near the heart of the Olympic spirit: the flame. - Sharing (share) - people feel the flame with the same passion. Each letter or number is half gray, half color. Where the two parts connect, there’s a darkened dot of overlapping hues to symbolize a relay. The logo and signage are a clean nod to the one Olympic design element that has stayed the same all these years: the Olympic rings.
Figure 22-24: graffica website 2014
Typeface: sans serif The relay typography is reflecting on three concepts.
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Pictogram Examples
Figure 25: Journal of pictogram by Fang-Jung Pei, 2015
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Pictogram Design
Design process
Design Designing the pictogram
Brief Designing a family of pictogram in department store’s floor directory to help visitors find their direction easily.
Tips
Colour
Pictogram
Use five colours
Department store
Fig. 26: skibbereeneagle website, Bullring centre
Typeface
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Helvetica
Pictogram Design
Steps 1. Preparing the materials. (Layout papers, pens and pictures)
2. Directly depict relatively simple concept of a real object.
3. Getting Start to draw the concept in the computer.
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Pictogram Design
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Pictogram Conclusion
Conclusion
Pictograms play an important role in our lives. For wayfinding design, pictograms are crucial communication media. However, pictograms are powerful graphic tools, which represent complex information, not only through the words and sounds but also through visual conveyance of meaning. This book gives a basic concept into the principles of pictogram design and discusses a variety of pictogram examples. Moreover, it allows learners to practice and try out the principles by practicing the brief. Through following the process in the book, learners will have the knowledge of designing effective pictograms.
Also, by publishing this book, I have better understood the principles of pictogram because I need to teach other learners. Thus, I need to take the role of the learner to see if it is clear enough for them? It might influence my future practice. I will think about the user when designing the pictograms, because the pictogram is designed for them. In addition, this book will be deliver in a simple and clear way to meet the needs of the learners, and they might follow the principle of the pictogram design to create effective pictograms. I look forward to combining the knowledge I have obtained when doing Master’s degree and I will carry all the knowledge to the next stage.
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Pictogram References
References The knowledge of this book
Bibliography Books
Hubner, R., Abdullah, R. and Hübner, R. (2006) Pictograms, Icons and Signs: A Guide to Information Graphics. LONDON: Norton, W. W. & Company. Gibson, D. and Pullman, C. (2009) TheWayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Calori, C. and Vanden-Eynden, D. (2015) Signage andWayfinding Design: A Complete Guide to Creating Environmental Graphic Design Systems. United States: Wiley.
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Baer, K. and Vacarra, J. (2008) Information DesignWorkbook: Graphic Approaches, Solutions, and Inspiration Plus 20 Case Studies. United States: Rockport Publishers.
Online resourses Website
architecture & design magazine | designboom magazine | your first source for architecture, design & art news (no date) Available at: http://www. designboom.com/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015). wayfinding design (no date) Available at: http://designworkplan.com/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
Coates, K. and Ellison, A. (2014) An Introduction to Information Design. United Kingdom: Laurence King Publishing.
Graphics and signage for BIG ideas (no date) Available at: http://www. mxdisplay.co.uk/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
Mijksenaar, P. (1997) Visual Function: An Introduction to Information Design. United States: Princeton Architectural Press.
Wayfinding + Skiltning (no date) Available at: http://www.dansign. com/uk/home.htm (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
Frutiger, A. (1991) Signs and symbols: their design and meaning. London: Studio Editions.
Product Videos (no date) Available at: http://www.woodhouse.co.uk/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
Evamy, M. (2007) Logo. LONDON: LAURENCE KING PUBLISHING.
Davidson, G. (no date) Pictograms, Ideograms, Icons & Logos. Available at: http://www.wearemsd.com/ blog/pictograms-ideograms-iconslogos (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
Pictogram References
tcworld (2015) E-magazine. Available at: http://www.tcworld.info/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015). Pictograms (no date) Available at: http://www.rio2016.com/en/ more-information/games-design/ pictograms (Accessed: 5 August 2015). Rio 2016 font (no date) Available at: http://www.rio2016.org.br/en/ more-information/games-design/rio2016-font (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
The Olympic Museum (no date) Available at: http://www.olympic. org/museum (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
Online resourses Journal
Acclimatization Required for Olympic Athletes in 1968 Mexico City Games (1964) JAMA, 190(11). doi: 10.1001/ jama.1964.03070240071035.
Brilliantly Designed Pictogram Series For Doha’s New International Airport (2014) Available at: http:// designtaxi.com/news/369987/ Brilliantly-Designed-PictogramSeries-For-Doha-s-NewInternational-Airport/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015). Bienvenido a la web de AENA (no date) Available at: http://www. aena.es/csee/Satellite/HomeAena (Accessed: 5 August 2015). Aena Visual Language | Biogråfica (no date) Available at: http://biografica. org/en/trabajos/identidad/universografico-de-la-marca-aena.html (Accessed: 5 August 2015). De Kwant, H. (2011) Al Sole Hotel Wayfinding System. Available at: http://www.dailyinspiration.nl/ al-sole-hotel-wayfinding-system/ (Accessed: 5 August 2015).
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Pictogram The principle of effective pictogram
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All right reserved. www.fangjungpei.com Designed by Fang-Jung Pei Proofreading by Christy Eposi Ndumbe Made in United Kingdom August. 2015