Semiotics refers to the study of visual communication and the manner in which signs and symbols throughout history, involving the combination of typography and images as well as necessary design elements and principle, can produce meaning, to be interpreted by the viewer.
According to Semiotics a visual image, as a sign, is placed into one of three group, depending on its associated traits :
Icons, Symbols, and Indexes.
Icons
An Icon can be referred to as a sign that directly visualises an associated object or concept. Icons serve to visually represent the traits of something specific through some kind of image and thus communicates the significant aspects of such. Icons do not have to be necessarily completely literal or concrete as an image, rather they communicate as a simple visual that employs particular traits of the associated object, or thing, and can be stylised.
Symbols
A symbolic sign is generally one which employs an array of simple images to convey meaning which is to be interpreted by the viewer. Symbolic signs are required to have a visual relationship with the viewer, in the sense that he or she should be able to automatically interpret them, and in effect, establish information from this symbol. Symbols, like icons, are generally simplistic, stylised images, that have little to no literal appearance, however, unlike icons, symbols are attributed to, and understood by, society as a whole, rather than a seclusive cultural group.
Index
An index can be defined as a combination of an icon and a symbol, which signifies and visually represents a certain character object, through a stereotype. An index instantly defines an action, without the observer considering the action to mean anything other than that which the index signifies, and serves to apply an automatic identity to a visually physical symptom. Smoke for example, is an index that automatically signifies fire, before the viewer even begins to consider another alternative meaning.
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