Any graphic sign or symbol representing an object with the help of a certain thematic drawing, rather than the sounds of a phonetic system, is called an ideogram. This is a dumb picture of an idea. The use of these symbols is called ideography (from Greek, “idea” + “written”).
So, some signs convey their meaning through a picturesque resemblance to a physical object, and therefore can also be described as pictograms. Ideograms are used in some written systems, such as Chinese and Japanese.
Examples of ideograms: concept
The finger image (pointer) is an ideogram. This is a concept, it is not a sequence of sounds and it matters: “go there” or “in this direction” and so on. It can be used in combination with words or other ideograms, for example, “stairs to the right” or “pick up your luggage at this place”.
These are not necessarily images of objects. The arithmetic sign “minus” is also an ideogram that depicts a concept translated as “minus” or “subtract the next from the previous” or “negative value”.
Can an ideogram convey the meaning of a word
The difference between an ideogram and an icon is not always clear. An ideogram is an image more like a rebus. Pictograms tend to be more literal.
Ideograms and pictograms were used to create written systems, such as Egyptian hieroglyphs, Sumerian cuneiform writing, and Chinese characters. However, often they are nevertheless logograms representing words or morphemes of a certain language, and not objects or concepts. In these writing systems, various strategies were used in the development of logos. Pictographic symbols represent the object the word refers to, for example, the bull’s icon, which means the Semitic word Aleph (bull).
Some words denoting abstract concepts may be represented by a sign, but most others are transmitted using the rebus principle, borrowing a symbol for a similarly sounding word. Many characters in hieroglyphic as well as cuneiform writing can be used either in logographic or phonetic form.
A brief history of pictograms and ideograms
Pictograms and ideograms were constantly evolving and were often associated with magical abilities. They were used to convey religious ideas or even as a secret code.
Today, the so-called icons serve a more utilitarian purpose. In connection with the industrial revolution and globalization, people all over the world establish themselves in foreign countries, using the same technologies for work and communication. These are a kind of universal images that help to communicate, regardless of language or culture.
Clear pictures
A pictogram is a symbol that conveys meaning in its resemblance to a physical object. Examples of pictograms include travel signs, for example, at airports or train stations, where many people may not be familiar with the local language.
In some cases, pictograms can be combined with ideograms. What these graphic symbols mean is clear to anyone. For example, a red circle means “not allowed,” and an orange or yellow triangle means “attention” or “danger.”
They are everywhere
We can see pictograms and ideograms everywhere. They are located on signboards near roads, on buildings, train stations, in electronic devices, computers, etc. They very simply convey the necessary information and are understandable to everyone.
Today there are thousands of generally accepted pictograms and ideograms, and we will recognize them at a glance. Popular examples are the email icon, phone icon, play button, download button, etc. Some of them are pictograms, others are ideograms, and some are a combination of the two.
Sometimes a pictogram plays the role of an ideogram. For example, an icon representing the meaning of an idea is represented by a light bulb. Even if the light bulb is actually a representation of the object (pictogram), it conveys the message of the idea, the concept (ideogram). The image can be amplified by light rays.
Creating an icon is not an easy task for a designer
Since the icon must be universal, it can be very difficult for a designer to create a working icon. There are so many things to consider. For example, the idea of something can be interpreted in different ways, depending on culture, beliefs or religion. The use of color is also best avoided. In Europe, red is a common symbol of danger, while in China, it symbolizes good luck and is believed to protect against evil.
Some ideas are considered impossible to fit into an ideogram without the help of text. Try to imagine the concept of "account manager" as an icon, this is really a very difficult task. It is also very risky to try to do something different when creating a new icon. If a triangle in a circle means a game, do not try to reinvent the wheel. It just confuses people. Icons are not always a place for creativity.
Actual Icons
Civilization does not stand still, the modern generation is practically born with tablets and smartphones. Will they really identify with the old-fashioned phone we use to present calls? Do they know that the voicemail icon used by Apple is actually a tape player? Do they know what a tape player is?
These are the questions you can ask while looking at your smartphone or computer. It seems that these types of icons become ideograms, instead of being pictograms - symbols that are finally universally accepted as the official presentation of an idea or concept.
One ideogram is worth a thousand words
Updating or changing an already-known icon is too risky, regardless of whether the modern generation can identify the presented object or not. As long as people can immediately understand what this means, there is no reason to introduce confusion. It is like changing the language, a universal way of communicating. What does an ideogram mean? This is visual communication.
The most popular examples are traffic signs: “ahead of construction work”, “parking for the disabled”, “stop is prohibited” and so on. An ideogram, in contrast to a pictogram, can denote not only the depicted object, but also indirectly related concepts. We can also say that an ideogram is a pictogram whose image is not interpreted literally. For example, a bicycle drawn in a circle indicates not the object itself, but a bicycle path.
So what is an ideogram? Iconic images have evolved over the centuries. Since the industrial revolution, at the dawn of globalization, badges began to appear everywhere, and their popularity grew with the development of technology. Icons are increasingly becoming a universal language in which each symbol has a special meaning.