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Signs, Symbols, & Cultural Basis of Design

This document discusses signs, symbols, and cultural influences in design. It provides examples of standard sign shapes used by the Bureau of Land Management and for traffic control, including triangles, rectangles, diamonds, pentagons, and octagons. Specific colors are also standardized for traffic control signs. Symbols represent ideas and beliefs. Chinese architecture emphasizes modesty, harmony with nature, and revealing beauty over time. Traditional feng shui and paifang memorial arches reflect Chinese cultural influences in design.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
573 views

Signs, Symbols, & Cultural Basis of Design

This document discusses signs, symbols, and cultural influences in design. It provides examples of standard sign shapes used by the Bureau of Land Management and for traffic control, including triangles, rectangles, diamonds, pentagons, and octagons. Specific colors are also standardized for traffic control signs. Symbols represent ideas and beliefs. Chinese architecture emphasizes modesty, harmony with nature, and revealing beauty over time. Traditional feng shui and paifang memorial arches reflect Chinese cultural influences in design.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SIGNS, SYMBOLS,

& CULTURAL BASIS OF DESIGN


SIGNS
• A sign is an object, quality, event,
or entity whose presence or occurrence
indicates the probable presence or
occurrence of something else
SHAPES OF SIGNS
• BLM(Bureau of Land and Management)
Sign Shapes

• Traffic Control Sign Shapes


BLM(Bureau of Land and Management) Sign Shapes

• 1. The INVERTED TRUNCATED TRIANGLE is the


standard shape for all identification Signs and
Guide Signs.
INVERTED TRUNCATED TRIANGLE
• The RECTANGLE with a longer dimension
vertical, is used for most REGULATORY SIGNS
and some WARNING and SAFETY SIGNS.
RECTANGLE
• The RECTANGLE, with the longer dimension
horizontal, is used for most informational
signs.
Traffic Control Sign Shapes
• The DIAMOND is used for most
warning signs.
• The RECTANGLE, with the longer dimension
vertical, is used for most regulatory signs and
some warning signs.
• The PENTAGON, with its point up, is used only
for SCHOOL and SCHOOL CROSSING signs.
• The PENNANT, with the longer dimension
horizontal, is used only for NO PASSING ZONE
warning signs.
• The OCTAGON is used only for STOP
signs.
• The EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE, with the point
down, is used only for YIELD signs.
• The ROUND shape is used for Railroad
Advance Warning signs and for Civil Defense
Evacuation Route markers.
• Specific colors have been standardized by the Federal Highway
Administration
• for certain traffic control purposes. These colors should not be used on
other signs along
• roadways or close to traffic control signs, where they could cause
viewer confusion
• between the non-traffic control signs and the traffic control signs. The
principal colors
• and their uses are:
• • RED - Stop or prohibition
• • BLACK - Regulation
• • WHITE - Regulation
• • ORANGE - Construction and maintenance warning
• • YELLOW - General warnings
• • BROWN - Recreational and cultural interest guidance
• • GREEN - Indicated movements permitted, direction guidance
• • BLUE - Motorist services
SYMBOLS
• The Meaning of symbol in Architecture 
symbol an object that represents, stands for,
or suggests an idea, belief, action, or material
entity. Symbols take the form of words,
sounds, gestures, or visual images and are
used to convey ideas and beliefs
Here are the some example of architectural
symbols 
Cultural Basis of Design
CHINESE
• You may find much Chinese ancient
architecture, is often composed of small yards.
Instead of pursuing the over-dimensioned
architecture such as western cathedrals,
Chinese ancient people designed housings fit
human dimensions so that they may feel
intimate and safe, and this idea reflects the
practical thinking in Chinese culture.
• Chinese people practice moderation in all things and
they don't lay emphasis on strong self-expression but
seek modesty and gentleness. The influence of this spirit
on architecture is characterized by pursuing sense and
connotation. Usually, the front of Chinese architecture is
simply plain walls that cannot catch your eyes, but when
you patiently walk inside, you will find the best feature is
waiting in the farthest inside like a shy girl slowly
uncovers her veil.
• Two typical types of Chinese ancient
architecture represent the profound influence
of Chinese culture are Fengshui and Memorial
arch.
• Fengshui : traditional theory especially directs
the process of architectural construction on
the basis of the culture of the Book of Change.
Its emphasis is concerned with the
harmonious unity of human beings with
nature.
 Paifang, or arch in english, is a wooden or stone
archway built mainly to commemorate  the great
achievements or loftiness of a family's ancestors.
It is often erected in front of a tomb, temple, and
ancestral hall or along the road. Many beautiful
lucky birds or beasts, exquisite flower patterns, or
characters written by celebrities are carved on the
arch.
Paifang symbolizes Chinese culture and has a long
history. Early in the middle of the Spring and
Autumn Dynasty (770 BC-476 BC), there was an
architectural style, Hengmen, which was composed
of two pillars supporting a beam. This style is
supposed to be the precursor of Paifang. In the
past, it was a very serious and ceremonious event
to erect a Paifang.
•THE END

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