Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3. Anna Ursyn, “The Meaning” (© 2008,
A. Ursyn. Used with permission)
One may see some tension between standard-
ization of signs and the creative approach to de-
sign. Standardization of signs and their meanings
makes possible their global, culture-independent
understanding, facilitates communication and so-
cial orderliness, which is important in designing
computer interfaces, icons used for manipulating
computer screens, or public traffic sign systems.
On the other hand, interacting with technology in
an engaging, playful way helps to create mean-
ing and construct individual worlds in the design
process.
Icons
Art or design form can be approached in iconic and
symbolic categories because icons and symbols
help compress information in a visual way. A term
'icon' usually relates to an object or its graphic
representation that has a symbolic meaning or refers
to something by resembling or imitating it; thus a
picture, a photograph, a mathematical expression,
or an old-style telephone may be regarded as an
iconic object. Thus, an iconic object has some quali-
ties common with things it represents, by looking,
sounding, feeling, tasting, or smelling alike. Visual
artists use signs as vehicles of meaning and often
use icons to bring to mind thoughts, represent, and
organize perception of the world. Icons displayed
on a computer screen are not physical objects but
represent some objects such as file folders, docu-
ments, and applications present within a graphical
user interface. Literary semioticians analyze texts
in this respect, while computational and algebraic
semiotic is a tool for the theory and practice of
programming languages for computing.
A cultural icon is an easy to identify image of
an object or concept with great cultural meaning
and significance to a wide cultural group; it can
be a symbol, person, logo, artwork, building, or
other cultural artifact. In the media, many describe
as “iconic” some well-known manifestations
of popular culture. For example, Andy Warhol
revealed and demonstrated general fascination
Pablo Picasso's (1942) sculpture of a bull's
head, which is composed of a bicycle handlebars
and a saddle, has a form that functions as a sign.
This sign is composed of three parts:
•
The material form of the sculpture carried
by the 'sign vehicle' (the saddle-handbars
combination),
•
Its meaning (a bull head), and
•
Someone who interprets it.
