* A pictogram (also spelled pictogramme) or pictograph is a symbol representing a concept, object, activity, place or event by illustration. Pictography is a form of writing where by ideas are transmitted through drawing. It is a basis of cuneiform and, to some extent, hieroglyphs, which uses drawings also as phonetic letters or determinative rhymes.
The website that I want to introduce you to, is nothing more than an extraordinary source for pictograms. Tough pictogram’s existence (ruled by standards) is considered to as old as a hundred years, pictograms are as ancient as the first writting systems… maybe more!
Pictograms travelled trough time to our days and their importance have even been reinvigorated by the digital era (icons, emoticons, etc.). They’ve evolved mostly on the easy and almost automatic fashion in which they’re absoved by human brain and on they’re universal meaning.
They’re present on our everyday life, they’re of extreme importance on modern societies but we don’t even notice them. Take 5 minutes, pay a visit to Sclera Picto’s e try to understand how difficult our life would be without these simple but expressive images.
On a more relaxed reference, pay a visit to Poptogramas, the Pop Pictograms created by Daniel Motta (2005). Is worth the visit!
Happy images.
* Pictogram, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pictogram&oldid=188802830 (last visited Feb 2, 2008).
