Warning symbols (Chap. 12)

Symbols (also called pictorials, pictograms, and icons) are graph- ical forms that are used to present information. They are some- times distinguished from text, and they also accompany and support text. In warnings, safety symbols may be used to in- crease salience, comprehension, and compliance to warning information. The effectiveness of a symbol depends on several factors, including the concept, the context, depiction quality, prior training, and target group knowledge. The literature sug- gests that symbols should have relatively simple, bold forms. They should remain legible when reduced in size, seen at a distance, and in degraded environmental conditions. Symbol comprehension tests using open-ended testing (and in relevant context) can provide input into symbol design that benefits un- derstanding in relevant target audiences. Research literature sug- gests that concrete (representational) symbols and concepts are better than abstract (arbitrary) symbols and abstract (low visu- alizable) concepts. In developing new symbols, iterative design and testing procedures are recommended. Informal and formal