The power of symbols
From cave drawings to Isotype and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics pictograms, history shows that powerful icons blend simplicity with a comforting visual appeal. These pioneer examples remind us that effective icons aren’t purely technical or rational—they resonate emotionally.
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Lessons from early human symbols
Prehistoric abstract shapes from the Genevieve von Petzinger study on first human signs.
Bottom right: Cave painting in Cantabria, Spain.
Humans have always communicated visually. Long before written language, prehistoric people relied on pictograms—minimal shapes etched on cave walls to convey important concepts, many of which remain mysterious to us today.
It seems we’re naturally wired to simplify ideas into abstract, universally recognizable symbols. Consider modern UI icons: airport signs or restroom symbols, effortlessly understood across cultures and languages. Remarkably, the geometric simplicity and proportions of these modern icons mirror those found in prehistoric cave drawings.
This ancient human instinct—distilling complex thoughts into symbolic shapes—wasn’t just practical. It was often intertwined with religious or mystical significance, connecting visuals to deeper emotions and beliefs. Perhaps that’s why icons still resonate so strongly today: they tap into our innate, timeless attraction to simplicity, abstraction, and symbolic meaning.
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Isotype: A foundation for modern iconography
Two people shaped the foundation of today’s UI icons and signage through the Isotype system:
Otto Neurath, an Austrian economist, created Isotype to simplify complex information using minimal visual symbols. Fascinated by Egyptian hieroglyphs, children drawing books and primitive art, he understood that humans instinctively prefer visual communication over text. Isotype symbols used simplified imagery to make data understandable, memorable, and universally accessible.
Gerd Arntz, Isotype’s principal illustrator, designed the iconic pictograms. Drawing on Expressionist and Constructivist influences, Arntz crafted symbols that supported, rather than replaced, written language—recognizable at a glance, minimal yet expressive.
Key lessons from the Isotype project:
• Simplified visuals enhance communication: Icons distill complex concepts into universally understandable symbols.
• Visuals surpass language: Clear, minimalist icons bridge cultural differences.
• Consistency and clarity matter: Icons designed with careful attention to geometry, grid alignment, and proportions are instantly recognizable and memorable. Isotype project is about standardization and creating a consistent visual language.
• Icons tap into human instinct: Effective symbols appeal to innate human preferences for simplicity, abstraction, and visual harmony.
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1964 Tokyo Olympics icons
The pictograms created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games marked a turning point in visual communication and iconography. Designed to help international visitors navigate an unfamiliar environment without relying on written Japanese, these symbols represented sports, restrooms, and various services through universally recognizable imagery.
What makes these icons unique is their blend of bold geometric simplicity and subtle hand-drawn warmth. Unlike purely rational and rigidly geometric symbols (like strict grids later seen at Munich 1972 by Otl Aicher), Tokyo’s icons maintained a human and expressive touch.
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1972 Munich Olympic Icons
The diagonal grid system adds dynamic energy,
perfectly capturing the motion and intensity of sports.
Designed by Otl Aicher, the 1972 Munich Olympic pictograms combined German geometric riguor with dynamic clarity.
Their carefully angled shapes—set at precise 45-degree diagonals—introduced a sense of movement within strictly grid-based designs, influencing modern standards for global signage, UI icons, and wayfinding systems. Built using a modular system of geometric shapes for each body part, these icons emphasize clarity and minimalism, while their dynamic angles prevent them from feeling static.
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Lesson: great icons feels human
What we learn from these pioneers of modern iconography: Good icons aren’t purely technical or rational—don’t fall into the trap of restricting yourself to a strict grid. Bring life and dynamism through diagonals, curves, and a human touch.
