Group members：Ella Krispel, Myoungae Kim, Xintong Wang, Yunze Si.
Our group visited the Rapid Response Collection exhibit at the V&A Museum together. And each chose the object of our initial interest.
After answering the questions in the brief, we found that each of us has a personal understanding of the project, our positions are not only different, but similar, so we decided to discuss the issues and background about the song project together.
When comparing the different positions of each object, we noticed a protrusion. While discussing Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir’s standardized road sign system, we realized that there is a stark difference in our understanding of road signs. We were particularly interested in the designer’s intent to create a standardized system constructed from visually simplified symbols aspired to effectively communicate objects, situations, instructions and warnings.
Our group’s initial investigation was to examine whether such a symbol-based system has intuitive/multicultural viability. We decided to explore our different understandings of certain symbols in the system by intuitively translating them in order to compare our results.
In my first work, I tried to translate the guide signs and warning signs with my own understanding. I have learned driving, but I have vaguely remembered the meaning of some road signs. So I have different understandings of the third, fifth and last road signs. For example, the third one looks like a hospital logo, which means driving more carefully to avoid traffic accidents. The fifth icon looks more like a reminder that you are about to encounter other vehicles and you should slow down. Last is watch out for the pedestrian icon. I tried to replace it with the graphics of people with mobility inconvenience， and the graphics of the Beatles crossing the road. It can enable drivers to receive pedestrian signals more clearly.