Graphich Symbols: The 5th Language – Kevin Thorne

5 Languages

• spoken – may be fluent in more than one
• written – symbolic form of our spoken language
• mathematics -symbols for concepts and data
• body – language of expression
• symbols

Examples: nike swish, windows flag, facebook “f”, target brand, golden arches

Symbol tips to get what is in your head, out in to graphics, into your course

How do we take thousands of years of communicating graphically into e-learning? World’s most well know symbol – the olive branch.

Ancient Egyptians entire language was all symbols. Mayan symbols thousands of years ago look extremely similar to iphone app icons….hmmmmmm.

Native Indians created some symbols, but added some motion into their “pictures”.

Sequential art – comics, Will Eisner PS monthly – 1951 The Preventative Maintenance Monthly. Taught driving safe but in “comics”. “A graphic medium in which images are utilized in order to convey a sequential narrative.”

The picture does not need to be professionally drawn, it just needs to convey the message. Put the “x” in the upper right corner to exit, we all already know that.

Shem says I’ll give you 2 pigs to Thor for 5 jars of olives. They agreed, left, came back and forgot the deal. So they drew pictures of what they wanted to trade. But 1 pig equalling 50 beans was too much to draw. Drew 50 beans = 1 pig. But then Bubba came and wanted to trade a goat. But Bubba couldn’t draw a goat. So they then created words 4 goats = 7 Jars of olives.

NOW…instead work backwards. Think of the words you want to convey, draw them as written language, convert to symbols.

Thinking of a clown:

• big nose
• big shoes
• poofy hair
• flower
• hat
• gloves
• big clothes
• make up
• tie

Can all be drawn with simple shapes. You can do it all yourself. Entire course hand drawn, hand written and the result was the same as an expensive coures.

Dan Roam – The back of the napkin. Any problem can be made clearer with a picture, and any picture can be made using the same simple steps.

Think of a cash register….you’ll first think of an old time 1930’s cash registered. Still a recongizeable symbol.

Squares, rectangles, lines, dots (triangles too) are all you need.

Simple frame – square inside a square, triangle at top

Again – square inside a square, half moon resting on top to the left, 2 lines up from the half moon, two dots on the right side of the “frame” – becomes a tv.

This is showing and sharing of symbol libraries. Complete library of basic shapes. Reusing over and over in slightly different configurations. Break apart the symbol in to basic shapes you can then create other symbols quicker and easily.

An object is first a shape. That shape occupies a space. That space defines the object. An object is a shape that occupies a space.

We can then stretch, squeeze, squash and squish basic shapes.

Like the 4 stage engine:

Intake – Consult, brainstorm, plan, team

Compression – Development, reviews, translate, edit

Ignite – launch involve engage market

Exhaust – measure, report, review, analyze