Urban Pictograms

Signs are designed to make you pause and refocus your attention in order to follow a rule or avoid a hazard. Pictograms on signs provide a common, nonverbal language to transmit that information regardless of the viewer’s native language. 

The National Park Service has a brown and white signage system, with pictograms, used to inform it’s visitors. Urban Pictograms borrow the graphic style from the NPS but are designed for use in the city. Rather than show landmarks, historical sites and services these signs point out the diverse people, activities and cultural phenomenon that currently give character to our urban landscapes. 

Pieces are attached to existing sign poles where an activity or site is present but may not be obvious unless we pause and refocus our attention. A pictogram’s meaning and placement is meant to stimulate conversation and help us question the culture we live in.