Digital Semiotics and Symbols

Semiotics is the study of symbols, and in this article we’re going to talk about some common symbols that mankind uses today, using icons commonly used in user interface design, infographics, logos, favicons, and sometimes advertisements. These symbols are used to communicate ideas of action, or to communicate ideas in writing. Copywriters who work with companies that use technology should become familiar with the technological symbology both for understanding and for proper placement of visuals, or within visuals.

You may notice that some designs have a universal appeal and some do not. For instance, the lightbulb and the phone have a universal understanding, whereas the “share” symbol or “paper airplane” may not. Every icon and symbol has a visual understanding in it that is rooted in many different fields on of thought. They can have philosophical, psychological, cultural, and sociological meaning. Let’s look at some of the common symbols used in the style of user interfaces, infographics, websites, and design. Symbols and icons give the background and copy room to float, and establish an airy feel.

Symbols and icons, if used properly, are a necessity for websites or reading material that is trying to simplify complicated material to the general public. They sensory storage and decreases the distraction of clutter. A designer or advertiser can improve clarity of a concept and reduce the need for elaborate passages of words by including a visual into the ad. Symbols and icons are the most simple of visual aids because they free up space and communicate one simple idea. For instance, the telephone symbol has evolved from its Twentieth Century shape, to symbolize an action that is taken when you open up the call application on a smartphone. You can also use this symbol in an advertisement, for instance, next to a company phone number. On a website, or even a resume, you can use this symbol for contact information, such as a mobile phone or landline phone number.

A profile icon symbol is sometimes used for a placeholder user-profile image for a photo or logo. The paper airplane has recently re-emerged as a symbol for sending messages, communicating ideas, and collaboration. It would be an appropriate symbol to use on an application where you can network with people. The gear symbol looks like a cog in a machine. It commonly symbolizes settings in applications. However, in infographics and advertisements, the gear also represent a work ethic, a special technology, or a method of operation. The share symbol looks like a V with 3 nodes. It symbolizes social networking and the sharing of an idea.

Since Thomas Edison, the lightbulb symbolizes invention, idea, innovation, critical thinking, and epiphany. It can communicate the sharing of ideas, or uniqueness. The magnifying glass has always represented searching databases. However, it is also used in zoom-in and zoom-out in eBooks, PDF-reading applications, and maps. In advertising, the magnifying glass can represent inspection.

Some of these symbols are commonly used on smartphones of different kinds. They are used in graphic user interfaces, and the visual culture that goes along with these different things. For instance, on an Android phone, every use of the phone has a specific set of symbols that are in alignment with the interface of the particular app. For instance, the alarm clock symbol looks like an old alarm clock. In social media, we have a notification bell, and a social-networking symbol that looks like a social network diagram. On the web browser, we have a home button, a globe which typically represents the World Wide Web, or a shopping cart for online shopping. And, we also have location symbols which would be used in a GPS app. These include a compass, topographic map symbols, a location pin, a zoom-in and zoom-out magnifying glass, and a shop symbol.