The Art of Iconography: Conveying Messages Through Symbols
British typographer Margaret Vivienne Calvert revolutionized road sign design with simple yet meaningful pictograms. She created iconic symbols like 'men at work' and 'schoolchildren nearby.' This approach, known as iconography, allows for easy communication of complex messages internationally. Challenge yourself to create symbol-based road signs without words to convey clear messages.
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Signs of our times
What links this women and the majority of the road signs we see everyday?
Margaret Vivienne Calvert is a British typographer and graphic designer who designed many of the road signs used throughout the United Kingdom. In 1957 Calvert was asked to redesign the road sign system and she came up with simple, easy-to-understand pictograms, including the signs for 'men at work' (a man digging), 'farm animals' (based on a cow named Patience that lived on a farm near to where she grew up), and 'schoolchildren nearby' (a girl leading a boy by the hand). Amongst many many others.
An iconography is a particular range or system of types of image used by an artist or artists to convey particular meanings. Graphic Designers often have to convey complex messages in the simplest way possible. Using only images and no words so that everyone can understand, no matter what language they speak. You ll be challenged to create iconography to convey messages and information. You ll be given a random selection of things to convey. Can you make an image clear and simple enough to convey a message that your peers can interpret correctly?
1. Crossroads ahead on major road. 2. Risk of toads in road (toads crossing) 3. No stopping: clearway 4. Tunnel ahead 5. No vehicles 6. Swing (or lifting) bridge 7. Risk of ice 8. Railway crossing without gate or barrier 9. Risk of bicycles (crossing) 10. Mini roundabout 11. Minimum speed 40mph 12. Steep hill downwards, 1:10 13. Soft verge 14. Tramway ahead, trams crossing 15. No pedestrians 16. Danger of Wild animals 17. No vehicles towing caravans 18. Congestion charge zone 19. Slow lorries (on hill) 20. Tanks crossing 21. Pedestrian crossing ahead. 22. No horse drawn vehicles 23. Elderly people crossing ahead. 24. Deep ditch (or other water hazard) to side of road.
Things to remember Triangle = Warning! Circle = An order!
The Challenge You will be given a piece of paper that has an instruction that you then need to create your own road sign for. Only you must see the message, do not show it to anyone! The road sign must not have any words! It must use only images! The images must be simple silhouettes i.e. if you need to draw a person don t include their hair, eyes etc. Images must use only one colour - Black! The road sign (like a real one) should be readable from a distance i.e. the back of the room!
Do Not show next slide until students have finished guessing each others answers
Warning Zombies ahead You must have a shower after swimming Beware of hazardous waste Warning Brussel sprouts Do not wear socks with sandals No phones in the swimming pool Fireworks ahead No Singing allowed! Iceberg ahead Beware of conkers falling from the trees You must flush the toilet Warning break dancers ahead Warning bad smell No snowball fights here You must take turns No hoodies allowed! Beware of the biting squirrels Socks must be worn with shoes Do not feed the rats Do not feed the woodpeckers You must sit straight up in your chair Do not wear sunglasses indoors No face masks allowed
Do not tickle the Pandas Do not add sugar to tea Warning escaped prisoners No juggling allowed Always remove the tea bag before adding milk No superheroes allowed No more than 5 players allowed in the 5 aside football team Do not feed the seagulls Warning Haunted castle ahead Beware of the werewolves if there is a full moon Do not eat the apples from this tree. Do not put any food waste in this bin Warning piranhas in this river Do not pat the dog You must sanitise your hands No picnics allowed You must walk to school No not drink the pond water Do not spray deodorant here Do not give fizzy drinks to the baby Lockdown area do not enter
