Symbol: The Reference Guide to Abstract and Figurative Trademarks

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Symbols play an integral role in branding programs. This book explores the visual language of symbols according to their most basic element: form. Over 1,300 symbols from all over the world are here categorized by visual type, divested of all agendas, meanings, and messages that might be associated with them so that the effectiveness of their composition and impact can be assessed without distraction and so that the reader can enjoy them as a pictorial language in their own right.

Every symbol is captioned with information on who it was designed for, who designed it, when, and what the symbol stands for. These sections are interspersed with short but detailed case studies featuring classic examples of symbols still in use, and exceptional examples of recently designed symbols.

This comprehensive volume is an indispensable resource for designers working on identity systems, and an engaging showcase of this exciting field. Now in a compact format.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

This work by Hyland, a partner at international design firm Pentagram, and Bateman, a freelance writer who contributes to design magazines, is a distinctive arrangement of symbols used by companies around the world, focusing purely on visual design. As Hyland writes in the preface, "The idea behind this book is to explore the visual language of symbols according to its most basic element: form.divested of all the agendas, [and] meanings." To achieve this classification by form, the book is arranged according to two major groups: abstract shapes (e.g., circles, squares) and representational forms (e.g., flowers, animals). About 1300 small, black-and-white symbols are included, each accompanied by captions indicating the name of the client, the designer of the symbol, the relevant business sector (e.g., finance, transport), the year of the design, and a brief description. These different points are all indexed. VERDICT This compilation is successful as a catalog of symbol forms and is thus a good reference tool for logo designers. For graphic designers and design students, this is a must-have.-Eric Linderman, Euclid P.L., OH (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.