Discourse 1 - Isotypes - Images

The logo for Shell uses reduction to simplify the design so it's generic. Since the logo is generic, it's apparent that it doesn't only refer to one specific shell in the world. It just represents shells in general. It's iconic, easily recognized, and can be recognized by anyone from any culture. This is how Neurath's ideas have influenced the development of modern graphics design and how the logos of companies have been shaped by the influence of ideas about simplicity and universality. The image of the shell logo came from Carlo Bejec's portfolio.


These next two images represent statistical information in graphic form instead of long lists of numbers that would bore, confuse, and lose the attention of anyone intended to see them. The map of China represents the birth places of Poets. Large red dots indicate places where lots of poets were born and small dots represent places where few poets were born. It's much easier, faster, and more interesting to viewers to be able to see this information graphically than long lists of numbers. The map of China came from "Envisioning Information" by Edward R Trufte.


The same principles are used in the chart below the map, which displays statistical information about the number of cars and phones in different European countries. Each image is a unit representing a certain amount of cars, phones, or people. Since the graphics representing cars, phones, and people apply the principle of reduction, they are to simple to represent a specific object. They represent any one of that type of object on the planet. It is generalized, like the shell logo. I mentioned in the bulleted information about the Isotype article I read that the size of the graphics are not meant to be interpreted literally. The phones do not represent giant phones the size of cars and the cars do not represent anything smaller than usual. The graph came from the "Reading Isotype" article by Ellen Lupton.


Since images are universal, they can be read by anyone of any culture who speaks any language. This can be useful for information intended for the general public because not everyone in the general public is necessarily from the same culture or speaks the same language. This can be especially vital and important to traffic signs, where lives could be in danger if people didn't understand them. This is why many traffic signs use isotype to convey messages, like signs warning of pedestrians, or signs displaying graphical information about the way a road turns. Below, there are some examples of signs using isotype to explain information about directing aircrafts. The image of the airtraffic control signs came from "Envisioning Information" by Edward R. Trufte.