Pictogram development - Asterisk and Arrows

After researching I have chosen an asterisk to base my pictogram is around this is because this symbol when used in text is when you are picking up from previous part of the text, select this is relevant to my wayfinding system as the images are picking up a part of Leeds that it once was and representing how it is now, after researching into what typeface to use this symbol in I have decided to go with Helvetica, this coincides with design and majority of current wayfinding systems being simple and easy to read (which also fits with my rationale). This typeface will also be best for allowing a good view point through the image when cut out. I've decided that the asterisk I will be using will be blue, I've decided to use blue due to colour theory, they represent trust, loyalty, calming, and knowledge. All of which I think should be important in a wayfinding system, as well as this blue is vibrant and will stand out against the backdrop of the cityscape; without taking good attention away from the buildings themselves. It is also blue that is predominant in the Leeds coat of arms, therefore the colour of the booklet will represent the city it is made for, on mass production this is something that could be changed to suit each individual city. Finally, blue sits well with black and white which all of the images from the Leodis collections will be, being from the 20th century. It will be interesting to experiment with types of blue, such as IKB which is the current graphic design trend, therefore making the pictogram relevant current graphic design, as well as taking into consideration the needs of the demographic.

Possible Variations

Asterisk Research

I will be designing my arrows from the asterisk to be able to keep a sense of unity between all of the way through the system this is something I picked up on my research (the ‘x’ being used when dissected for arrows). I have chosen this way to create my arrows as I don’t think the other subjective methods (abstract drawing and black letter) would be appropriate for my system. As it is entirely visual I think in order to work as a wayfinding method it needs to have a slight element of subjectivity, therefore I will be experimenting by hand but creating the final arrows digitally on illustrator. This clean cut poshiled look is something which was discussed during crits to contrast against the older style of the photographs.

Figure 1

Figure 2

These arrows that I have experimented with are all contained within the asterisk form, this keeps links the arrows that will be in place on the streets of the wayfinding system to the booklet that will be presented as part of it. I will be asking in the next crit which one people identify most with as an arrow in the direction it is meant to be in, although I believe that the most successful one will be the arrow in the bottom hand corner of figure 2. This is because it looks most like an existing arrow, and it is very clear that it is from the asterisk when placed nearby to it.