German and Japanese symbol systems: A Visual Investigation

German and Japanese symbol systems: A Visual Investigation

German and Japanese symbol systems: A Visual Investigation The purpose of the visual exploration was to investigate the influences that different cultures can have upon symbol systems, particularly those within the public transportation environment. Pictographic signage programs communicate important information and directions simply to people from all cultural backgrounds ad are meant to bridge language barriers. However, my visual exploration was developed in the belief that worldwide public reaction to those symbols, may be dependent on culture, gender, language, age and literacy. So, I set out to visually challenge this notion and at the same time have some fun with this exploration. In 1974 the United States Department of Transportation commissioned the American Institute of Graphic Arts to create a master set of passenger and pedestrian oriented signs. The final set of symbols were designed and drawn by Roger Cook and Don Shanosky. An important inspiration for my exploration was the traditional Japanese family symbol or crest, the mon, the principle expression of Japanese heraldry in use for a thousand years. The simplified design of flowers, birds, animals, plants, or objects in the home contained in a circle was applied to belongings and clothing. These simple, symmetrical Japanese crest compositions have a subtle and precise use of line and space. Another important inspiration is European Heraldic Design. From the earliest stages of mans development, groups and individuals have used signs or marks for identification symbols that we call emblems or insignia. For the visual exploration I chose two countries, Japan and Germany, and developed two sets of symbols, taking into consideration each countrys culture, tradition, history and visual language. My overriding goal was to create a new family of glyphs combining the traditional Japanese family crest, European heraldic emblems, without losing sight of semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic considerations, and retaining the overall harmony of the 1974 United States Department of Transportations passenger and pedestrian oriented signs.

Symbol Systems In 1974 the United States Department of Transportation commissioned the American Institute of Graphic Arts to create a master set of passenger and pedestrian oriented signs. The final set of symbols were designed and drawn by Roger Cook and Don Shanosky.

Traditional Japanese Family Crests An important inspiration for my exploration was the traditional Japanese family symbol or crest, the mon, the principle expression of Japanese heraldry in use for a thousand years. The simplified design of flowers, birds, animals, plants, or objects in the home contained in a circle was applied to belongings and clothing. These simple, symmetrical Japanese crest compositions have a subtle and precise use of line and space.

European Heraldic Design Another important inspiration is European Heraldic Design. From the earliest stages of mans development, groups and individuals have used signs or marks for identification symbols that we call emblems or insignia. Emblems in general are older than our ability to read and write; people of all cultures have used them. Arms and symbols have also appeared on the battlefields.

The system of emblems introduced by European knights during and following the Crusades was much more elaborate than earlier emblem designs, and later periods saw a growing complexity. Shields (or coats of arms) began to assume the prestige of their bearers and their usage was extended as artistic embellishment symbolic of the nobility of the possessor. Arms were carved in wood and stone, impressed in metal, and appeared almost endlessly in castles and churches, on monuments and tombstones.

japanese symbol: yen

german symbol: money exchange

japanese symbol: yen

german symbol: medic

japanese symbol: botanical

german symbol: book shop

japanese symbol: telefax

german symbol: church

japanese symbol: entrance

german symbol: playground

japanese symbol: bus stop

german symbol: washroom

japanese symbol: aquarium

german symbol: five

japanese symbol: money exchange

german symbol: hospital

japanese symbol: preist

german symbol: four

japanese symbol: bakery

german symbol: telephone

japanese symbol: confections

german symbol: time

japanese symbol: gifts

german symbol: escalator

japanese symbol: yen

german symbol: airport

japanese symbol: fruit

german symbol: subway

japanese symbol: library

german symbol: german city

japanese symbol: food

german symbol: wine bar

japanese symbol: book store

german symbol: luggage

japanese symbol: time

german symbol: information

japanese symbol: garden center

german symbol: truck stop

japanese symbol: sake

german symbol: coffee bar

japanese symbol: airport

german symbol: police