Semiotics

The theories and methodologies which explore...

• How systems of signs work to make meaning.
  
• How we represent ideas and create meanings using a range of tools such as words and images.
  
• How one thing can be used to stand for something else.
  
• How we make sense of – and participate in – the visual world. 

All good designers are semioticians.

A good idea or a brilliant aesthetic may fall down in the absence of proper and effective communication of the idea through the aesthetic. This is where semiotics comes in: Understanding semiotics can help us to ensure we're communicating messages effectively. 

I like it. What is it? - By Anthony Burrill

During the lecture I found this piece of work by Anthony Burrill. I have had a look at his work before and I really like the work he has created. But for this, I have found the work he created called: I like it. What is it? My first thought of this is yes, what is it? What does it mean? Who is it for? All these questions come to my head straight away when I look at this work. I like pieces of work like this. It makes the reader think about the work more and you don’t just see what’s in front of you. You look beyond this and think about the meaning of it. So this work links in well with the theme of semiotics as it’s a sign but you don’t just read what it says you look beyond the work so I think this fits in well with this topic.

Signs

During the lecture I found this piece of work by Anthony Burrill. I have had a look at his work before and I really like the work he has created. But for this, I have found the work he created called: I like it. What is it? My first thought of this is yes, what is it? What does it mean? Who is it for? All these questions come to my head straight away when I look at this work. I like pieces of work like this. It makes the reader think about the work more and you don’t just see what’s in front of you. You look beyond this and think about the meaning of it. So this work links in well with the theme of semiotics as it’s a sign but you don’t just read what it says you look beyond the work so I think this fits in well with this topic.

This sign to the left, again has a different impact on people. I look at this and see that it is a piece of graffiti. The people that did this might of not made it to be what it looks like now. What we see is a silhouette of a guy being sick. And then in the real life there is plants growing where he’s being sick. So, we see a guy vomiting flowers. What does this mean? This is a sign and it has different impact on people and what people think of it. I think that it is a piece of amazing art and it performed professionally. Whereas, others might see this as disrespectful. We all have different opinions.

This chart shows what we see on top, and then underneath is all the things that we don’t see. So we have to think about these things, because this could help us see work in a different way. So, the idea is not just to write what you see. Look beyond the image and think about things that may not even be relevant but still could work.

This sign is a common sign that we see everywhere in different forms or sizes and in different places. We all know what this sign means. If you were looking for somewhere and this sign tells you to go right you would follow the sign as it would help you reach your destination. Again, it could be to direct you to the toilet you would then know where the toilet is. But the sign below, what does this mean? It has an arrow pointing right like the top sign but then it has a sign on it pointing left. Which way is right? No one knows. So this is a semiotic sign and it has a different meaning and it impacts different people.

In basic terms, semiotics analysis asks how we make sense of the world through words, images, experience and interpretation. Your brain is wired to make sense of an image in milliseconds, compare that with the rate of at which people talk, or your reading speed. Our visual sense accounts for at least 75% of all inputs received by our brains.

Colour Semiotics

Colour then comes into this very well. We all have colours that we see as bad, good, hot, cold, calming etc. All colours have different connotations. For example: RED connotes – death, blood, danger, burn etc. Whereas BLUE connotes – calm, cool, relief etc. So this then links in with signs. Red signs are usually danger, do not, or warning. The sign below is a good example of a colour semiotic. This sign shows that red signs are never good, they always mean something dangerous or warning you of something.

Our actions and thoughts – the things we do automatically – are often governed by a complex set of cultural messages and conventions, and dependent upon our ability to interpret them instinctively and instantly. 

This is a game that I have played many times throughout school and college. It’s a Semiotic, when you look at this try say the name instead of the colour and see how that goes. Try it quicker and quicker see how fast you can go. You can then do this vice versa, so say the colour instead of the name. again go faster with this and see how you do. It links in with semiotics and language and it is a good game to play.