Design Ignites Change - Projects - A Language of Symbols

The Art Institute of California - Sacramento

Anti-smoking communication campaigns can be seen and heard on a daily bases in all parts of our world. The message is clear. This is not a message directed toward a single culture or race of people. The harmful results of smoking tobacco have been proven and have effected an international population. Educating this world population is a continual problem and one that could be advanced by creating an international language against smoking.

Steve Holler, Instructor
rholler@aii.edu

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March 15, 2011

A visual vocabulary of symbolic message units. The symbols form complete statements when placed in association with one another.

Message: "Smoking is a live grenade."

Message: "Smoking causes cancer."

Message: "Smoking is an addiction."

A system of international symbols has long provided aid and information to a traveling public. Everyone can follow a directional arrow, locate the nearest public toilet or find the building exit. Pictograms have been designed to aid a multi-language society in communicating through a visual vocabulary. Could this type of universal symbolic system be designed to communicate ideas about non-smoking?

Donald Holmquist, a senior graphic design student, designed elements of a visual vocabulary that are intended to create messages that discourage smoking. Each pictogram visually defines a word or idea that, when placed in association with another, creates an anti-smoking message. The vocabulary pictograms are flexible in form and can be applied to many different venues and media.

A Language of Symbols

The Art Institute of California - Sacramento

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