SIGNS
ICON
the pencil, cowgirl, balloon, and books are all icons
Location: W 63rd Street Kansas City, MO 64113
SIGNS
INDEX the windmills are in index of wind
Location: W 63rd Street Kansas City, MO 64113
SIGNS
SYMBOL the lightbulb is a symbol of an idea
Source: Indie Publishing Book Cover, 2008
SIGNS
PARADIGM the popcorn cans are a paradigm because they function in the same way, but each one is unique
Location: W 63rd Street Kansas City, MO 64113
SIGNS
SYNTAGM
the days of the week and hours of operation are a syntagm, because of their linear sequence
Location: W 63rd Street Kansas City, MO 64113
PRAGMATICS
AUDIENCE
fans of the wonder years
CONTEXT music venues
MEANING the hand-drawn imagery and hand-written type are remniscent of DIY culture and carry connotations of a typical gig poster. The pop punk music community is known for their DIY approach to music and self-promotion.
Source: Illustration by James Hiemer, Poster received from venue
PRAGMATICS
AUDIENCE printmakers and artist
CONTEXT personal or public book collection
MEANING the combination of the photo, handwritten type, and paint splatters represents the process and creativity that goes into making a print
Source: Pulled, Book Cover, 2011
MEANING
CONNOTATION official, simple
DENOTATION a poster of a realistic photo repeated 3 times, with 2 colored circle overlays, combined with bold serif and sans-serif type
Source: Artist Unknown, Poster Recieved from Venue
MEANING
CONNOTATION vintage, old fashioned
DENOTATION a noisy photo montage of a landscape and a man with serif and script typefaces
MEANING
CONNOTATION
scary, dark, creepy, mysterious
DENOTATION a graphic black and white photo of a man outdoors with hand-written and warped type
CODING
ORIGINALS
Source: A Day to Remember, What Separates Me From You, CD Cover, 2010
Source: Into It. Over It.,Twelve Towns, LP Cover, 2011
CODING
ANCHOR the type anchors the hourglass image by furthur establishing the separation of people because of time
CODING
ANCHOR the image of the clock anchors the hourglass image by supporting the concept of time
CODING
RELAY
the hourglass is relayed by the image of world destruction by relating it to the end of mankind
CODING
RELAY
the text relays the image of the stamp by relating it to the 2001 anthrax attacks
DEFINITIONS
SEMIOTICS SEMANTICS PRAGMATICS SIGN
the study of signs, it was originally started by Ferdinand de Saussure in the study of linguistics and was expanded upon by Charles Sanders Peirce the study of signs in relation to their meaning the study of signs in relation to the audience and context it is used the element of meaning composed of two parts, a signified and a signfier
SIGNIFIER
the physical form of a sign
SIGNIFIED
the expression of a sign
ICON
the depiction of something
INDEX
the evidence of something
SYMBOL SYNTAGM PARADIGM CONNOTATION DENOTATION ANCHOR RELAY
the illogical representation of something that is accepted from a general consensus a linear series of signs a series of signs that are similar while being individually unique the abstract, implied meaning a viewer can interpret from a sign based on cultural norm the factual and literal aspects of a sign identified by Roland Barthes as the act of supporting the meaning of a sign with image or text identified by Roland Barthes as the act of changing the meaning of a sign with image or text
STATEMENT
I’ve always believed that design could be found everywhere, no matter where you are. In our first exercise, street safari, we went out into the world and photographed a street that we found to be graphically rich. We learned about the components of semiotics and its application to the real world. Next, we applied that lesson to design by finding semiotics in found artifacts. Building upon that, we looked at the meaning of semiotics by our connotation and coding exercises. Finally, we learned about semiotics and its importance to the world around it This project proved my belief to be true. Design really is everywhere and not only that, it’s important. I’ve grown to understand communication more. As a result, I understand the process of design better. As a designer, I can make smarter choices by understanding what I’m saying, how to alter it, and how to give it meaning. I think semiotics really taught me how to see the difference between arbitrary choices versus purposeful ones.