Icons That Showed It Happens Over Again Different Perspective Symbol
When symbols get icons and icons become symbols
A quick await at the anthropology of design
Pardon the cliche, but yep, Design is timeless.
There is no better visual proof of this than when an icon becomes a symbol and a symbol becomes an icon.
As designers, we know the difference between an icon and a symbol. But just in case:
An icon is a simple image that represents a real thing. For example, a shopping cart icon.
A symbol is a simple image whose significant must exist learned. For example, most traffic signage is made of symbols. A "no parking" sing with a P crossed out with red needs to be learned to be understood.
But in some cases, icons become symbols and symbols become icons.
What exactly brings this change?
Normally, it'southward the passing of time and the regular use of information technology.
Let's accept a expect at a few symbol-to-icon and icon-to-symbol transformations.
When Symbols Get Icons
Over time, some symbols take become and then popular that we accept admission to thousands of digital versions of them. For example, the peace sign, the Egyptian Ankh, and the smiley face among others.
Going back to the definition of a symbol; a simple image that represents something that needs to exist learned…
Throughout history, symbols have been a large role in the development of civilisation and linguistic communication. The alphabet in every linguistic communication is a set of symbols that need to exist learned.
This brings me to the first transformation from symbol to icon. The Egyptian Ankh symbol.
The Ankh
Nosotros know the Ankh symbol every bit merely that, a symbol. But in fact, the Ankh is part of the ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, just 1 in a numerous ready of symbols.
The Ankh symbol represents life and the key to the mysteries of the afterlife. It was used as part of hieroglyphic writing in aboriginal Arab republic of egypt and wasn't translated until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
It's definitely one of the well-nigh important Egyptian symbols, having such a powerful meaning. It's been thousands of years since the aboriginal Egyptians used hieroglyphs to tape their history. But the Ankh, and it's meaning, has become a recognizable icon.
When people see an Ankh, they might not say "oh, that's an Ankh". That only happens if they studied ancient symbolism and call up information technology.
The most common comment to seeing an Ankh is whatsoever variation of these:
"That's the cross with the circumvolve on elevation"
"That's the Egyptian Cross"
"Isn't that what Prince changed his name to?"
These are proof of how the Ankh has become part of our regular visual vernacular. Fifty-fifty if non everyone knows the historical meaning behind information technology, they take seen information technology or interacted with information technology in some way.
That'southward why nowadays, the Ankh is bachelor as an icon in many different styles on sites like Flaticon and Freepik. They are gear up to be used on whatsoever graphic blueprint project.
Yes, even tattoos and logos of class.
The Ankh is now an icon for the modern holistic.
The Peace Symbol
The second symbol turned icon which I'll talk about is the Peace Symbol. Once once again, a symbol is a small epitome that represents something that needs to exist learned.
Only who doesn't know what the peace sign is? I tin bet you lot, anybody knows.
How is that? Well, because it'south on wear, on posters, on stickers, on notebooks. It's everywhere!
There'southward no easier way for a symbol to become an icon than for information technology to exist used on merchandise.
The origin of the peace symbol is during the nuclear era in the 50s. Information technology was used by activists, hippies and the general community against the state of war and equally a movement for peace.
Interestingly, non everyone knows the truthful origins of the peace symbol.
Now, the peace symbol is an icon in a library of useable icons for any visuals related to peace, or only fun designs.
The Smiley Face
If you've seen Forrest Gump, you might call back y'all know the origin of the smiley face. If not, so maybe you know that the happy face up emoji is its indirect descendant.
The history of the smiley face is pretty complex, with many different people claiming rights for information technology.
The first smiley confront was technically drawn by designer Harvey Ball. He drew it every bit a symbol to correspond happiness and contentment in the workplace. It wasn't, of course, a difficult symbol to larn the meaning of. It was instantaneous.
When his unpatented smiley face up became extremely pop, it was used past a few other groups for employ in publications and merchandise.
When colored emoji made their way into our phones, information technology was instantly obvious that fifty-fifty if the smiley face up wasn't exactly turned into an emoji directly, it definitely inspired them.
And yes, emoji are icons. And that'southward how the symbol for happiness and contentment became an immortal icon.
Symbolikon
The realization of how symbols take get icons is not a new concept by any ways. In fact, I'm simply a messenger.
But recently I was contacted by an Italian visual designer who created an astonishing library of ancient symbols. She calls information technology Symbolikon. Her project is amazing, but amazing.
Coincidence? I don't recall so.
Check out Symbolikon through the link.
When Icons Go Symbols
Moving on, let's turn the plate effectually to when icons become symbols. So, an icon is a small prototype that resembles something. Icons are everywhere, on the streets, on our phones, etc.
When icons become symbols information technology usually happens because time has passed and the original meaning of the icon has been lost. For example, the infamous floppy disk.
The Floppy Disk
The symbol we still use for "saving" a document is a floppy disk. Just people older than effectually 35 really know what that image really is. It was called as an icon during an era in which we used floppy disks to salve documents on all the word processing programs like Microsoft Give-and-take.
If you search for a "save icon" online, the majority of icons that testify up are floppy disks in unlike designs.
The fact that well-nigh young people cease up request what that prototype is, has turned the floppy deejay icon into a timeless symbol.
Telephone Receiver
How many of us still use landline phones with receivers that wait similar the one in the Whatsapp?
Hardly anyone!
So why is this telephone icon in that logo? Because it has now become a symbol of communication.
Tin you add whatever more than icons that have turned into symbols and symbols that accept turned into icons?
Go out me a comment and permit's conversation about it!
Source: https://medium.muz.li/when-symbols-become-icons-and-icons-become-symbols-b3a7c9613548
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