Pictograms: A view from the drawing board or, what I have learned from Otto Neurath and Gerd Arntz (and jazz)

Holmes, Nigel

doi:10.1075/idj.10.2.08hol

Article published In: Theme: Pictograms
[Information Design Journal 10:2] 2001
► pp. 133–143

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Pictograms

A view from the drawing board or, what I have learned from Otto Neurath and Gerd Arntz (and jazz)

Nigel Holmes

Published online: 17 January 2003

https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.10.2.08hol

This article sets out to discuss the practical development of pictograms and the thoughts that lead to their final visual shape. It explains the personal considerations that combine all issues that are related to making graphics, such as drawing, technique, conventions, and commercial aspects. The article explains how ISOTYPE and its designer Gerd Arntz influences current day-to-day work. By drawing parallels with jazz, different approaches to drawing graphics are shown and explained.

Keywords: graphical symbol, icon, pictogram

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