Pictograms, the international language

Chinese Characters derived from

 pictographs

The origin of the word pictogram is from the Latin verb pingere – to paint or depict. Similarly, a pictograph is an image signifying a particular object, place, event, idea or action. As evident by discoveries made in Egypt and Mesopotamia, these illustrations were the first form of writing where the picture, resembles the meaning. This is also the case for Chinese characters which have derived directly from pictographs and phonetic symbols.

Pictograph showing the escalator

going up.

These illustrations have always been a means of visual communication, an international language which can be understood by everyone, despite the person`s native language or educational background. An advantage of such illustrations is therefore that even an illiterate person is able to understand the message clearly. Anyone in the world familiar with an escalator will understand the significance of a pictogram similar to that on the left . On the other hand however, if a person comes from a different culture where he is not familiar with the object depicted, then the message communicated might not come across.

Isotype logo

In the 1930s the Viennese economist and museum director Otto Neurath along with his wife, introduced the international system of typographic Picture Education, also known as Isotype. This set of pictographic characters was initially created so as to produce a graphic communication of information about locales and events amongst others. Neurath`s pictograms were formed from simple silhouettes which represented an image. This type of silhouette was much favoured since it did not allow for personal interpretation.  The main idea was ‘to create narrative visual material, avoiding details which do not improve the narrative character’ as was stated by Neurath in one of his books. He was convinced that isotype could potentially become the first worldwide pictorial language.

Another example of pictograms is found at the international Olympic games. Otl Aicher and his team created a set of about 180 pictograms for sporting events and services using a square grid. Other projects by Aicher and his team include work for large corporations such as Lufthansa and the information system in Frankfurt airport. The future style of symbols was influenced greatly by the complete system of symbols for air traffic and travel created by Aicher. On the other hand, El Lissitzky, a Russian artist and designer, created a set of pictograms when he collaborated with the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky on a collection of poems which were meant to be read out loud at public meetings. Lisstzky changed text type into pictograms, so as to give the reader a greater sense of the meaning.

Pictograms for different sporting events

Pictographs are still used today as illustrative signs, for statistical diagrams, as well as an indication of places such as toilets, airports, and Exits. In addition pictograms are used on clothing labels to indicate the proper way to wash particular clothing. Interestingly enough, these symbols are still used today in some non-literate cultures in Africa as a means of written communication. As can be seen therefore, pictograms are still a powerful means of communication which can also be described as an international language.

Pictogram found in bathrooms

Pictograms found with clothing

References:

Oxford Dictionaries. 2014. Oxford Dictionaries. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/. [Accessed 7 October 2014].

An Introduction to the History of Graphic Design. 2014. An Introduction to the History of Graphic Design. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.designhistory.org/. [Accessed 7 October 2014].

What is the History of Pictographs?. 2014. What is the History of Pictographs?. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.innovateus.net/innopedia/what-history-pictographs. [Accessed 7 October 2014].

The History of Visual Communication - Ideograms. 2014. The History of Visual Communication - Ideograms. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.citrinitas.com/history_of_viscom/ideograms.html. [Accessed 7 October 2014].

Steven Heller, 2012. 100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design. 3.3.2012 Edition. Laurence King Publishing.