Signs and Symbols: Their Design and Meaning

by Adrian Frutiger

Discusses the elements of a sign, and looks at pictograms, alphabets, calligraphy, monograms, text type, numerical signs, symbols, and trademarks

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Art, Art Design, Semiotics, Unfinished, Reference

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Ola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polish edition of this book (edited by d2d.pl) is pure beauty; letters and illustratons was so well-composed that I almost couldn't focus my attention on reading.
The book itself is really good, juicy and full of informations; 'must have' for someone interested in the theory of signs.

[Janin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another one of those books that I've borrowed from the library so often, I should just order my own copy. It's an excellent introduction to the origin and construction of signs and symbols-- but (as they admit) it is really only an introduction. It doesn't go into great detail with any of the symbols presented, and it doesn't point out that the same symbol can have multiple (and completely opposite) meanings in different cultures/ time periods. Even so, it is still a great introduction to the topic and a good place to start.

[Olga_Kotki · Rating 3 out of 5]

overrated

[Kamila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okejjj, no ogólnie to ta książka jest spoko i świetnie tłumaczy ale jego wspominki na temat alfabetu japońskiego nie są do końca poprawne – zakładam, że nie zrobił aż tak dogłębnego researchu, no się gość nie znał. Tak samo jak cytuję "Dawniej wyobrażano sobie, że to nie Słońce, lecz Ziemia była centrum wszechświata" i rozumiem, ze oryginał jest z 1978 roku ale tłumaczenie jest z 2015 i tłumacz powinien dać do tego jakiś przypis – dla niewtajemniczonych w centrum najprawdopodobniej jest czarna dziura, słońce jest centrum układu słonecznego, nie wszechświata. Jeszcze kilka rzeczy mnie korciło ale to były te dwa główne. Być może niektóre z nich są kwestią tłumaczenia, albo tego, że oryginał ma już te 40+ lat.

Nie powiedziałabym, ze jest to "must read" a raczej "would be nice to read". Książka przedstawia historię symboli i znaków i pokazuje ich ewolucję. Jest to dobra lektura dla grafików, typografów, kogokolwiek zainteresowanego tematem.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a brilliant book! fantastically designed and illustrated, touches on numerous fascinating topics and synthesises them all in an informative and digestible way. a perfect introduction to the topic with many points to launch off of.

[Oleksandr · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are living in the age of information flood, being detached from traditional forms of communication and message transfer provided by digital freedom. And it becomes more and more important to understand origins and rules of visual knowledge transfer, signaling and more to make information easily comprehensible and scannable by humans to prevent missing and loosing it in the void of digital cosmos.

This book is an amazing journey from rock paintings to modern typefaces, symbols, signals and beyond. It contains a thorough analysis of “anatomy” and “algebra” of visual means of information transfer accompanied by plentiful facts of history, tools, materials, human physiology and perception.

Just as languages are alive, ever-changing and adapting to the world, so are the means of speech and knowledge transfer. The book, while showing fundamentals, also invites its readers to use their intellect and imagination to come up with better solutions for the contemporary environment or even to create new ones for concepts and mediums non-existent before (which is a part of a daily job in software engineering, for example).

It’s hard to imagine the amount of effort put into this book and it’s definitely recommended for everyone interested in design, history, and cultures.

[Kalina Wojciechowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ludzie posługują się znakami aby się komunikować. Niekiedy owe znaki, używane w różnych kontekstach, urastają do rangi symbolu. Wywołują skojarzenie natychmiastowo. Z reguły są skonstruowane z prostych figur, mających swoje własności, takich jak linia czy koło.

Fascynujące, jak wiele podobnych kształtów pojawia się w różnych kulturach w różnym czasie, nie mających ze sobą kontaktu. Takie jak słońce czy gwiazdy (otwory w firmamencie).

Szczególnie ekscytujące są dla mnie symbole magiczne, te które opowiadają o tym, jak istoty ludzkie przetwarzają bodźce i tworzą z nich narracje.

Chciałoby się więcej. Analiza poszczególnych znaków dostarcza mi treningu umysłowego.

[Dimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute stunner of a book, Frutiger describes in detail most common ways that we have been using symbols as a species, from speech-fixing signs like letterforms, to the way we abstract pictures and icons to use as signatures, emblems and trademarks.

Pro tip: Start noticing the difference between signs with stroke endings and closed forms. Wow.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written and fascinating exploration of signs and symbology from the pictorial/graphic to written alphabets. It examines the characteristics of signs (i.e., what makes a picture a sign), the meaning of specific designs, and a history of the development of signs. The illustrations are a rich source of inspiration as well!

[Andrea Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno dei migliori e più esaustivi manuali sui simboli e il loro significato, dagli albori della storia, fino ai giorni nostri e dalle forme più semplici (punto, linea, ecc) alle più complesse. Da avere!

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best and most comprehensive books on design of signs/symbols that I've ever read. Should be required reading for all designers.

[Msr2d2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cześć zagadnień bywa trochę nazbyt skrótowo i nieco chaotycznie opisywana. Ale graficzna prezentacja tekstu i grafik! Mrraauuu!

[Yokusun Basi]

Segni & simboli. Disegno, progetto e significato

[kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all: I can't believe that such elegant book received this kind of cover. Please don't judge it by that splash of colours - the artistic design behind it is absolutely minimalistic, with a humble typeface, and monochromatic illustrations. And by the way, it's an amazing introduction to typography, including information on history of scripts, categories of signs, and their meanings.

[McCorvus Crowlish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good start if someone's totally new into the field of Signs and Symbols, plus it gives you a good way of thinking the same way those who created these sumbols and signs did and why they did so.. Overall it was a pleasant read though its not in depth when it comes to detail.. So if one already knows a lot about it this isn't the right book for them.

[Mauricio Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um grande livro sobre signos, índices e ícones. Percepção visual, design gráfico e artes visuais e gráficas. O célebre Adrian Frutiger faz jus à seu nome como designer gráfico em excelência de todos os tempos.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about signs meaning and their origin

[Tarasova · Rating 4 out of 5]

(part 2)

[Sandra Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinais & Símbolos
FRUTIGER, Adrian
Editora: MARTINS FONTES
ISBN: 8533610998
Edição: 1ª Edição - Setembro 1999
Número de Páginas: 338
Acabamento: BROCHURA

[Mohammad Shaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can fairly say that the author has done a very good job for such an old book. The book is a nice ride in the world of signs and symbols throughout the ages. Much of it is very interesting.

[Francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating, deeply thorough and researched and easy to comprehend. A well organized historical journey through the history of signs and language and culture.

[Karel Kovall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional.

[Giovanni Botta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finito nel 01/gen/1970 00:00:00