Sistemas de Informação Pictográfica

O universo dos pictogramas: métodos e procedimentos de design para obtenção de coerência formal

Name: Carlos Rosa
Year: 2012
Institution: Lisbon School of Architecture Universidade de Lisboa
Supervisors: João Paulo Martins, José Brandão
Discipline: Communication Design
Scope: Pictograms
Taxonomy: Praxiology/Phenomenology
Type: Theoretical
Language: Portuguese
Wordcount / Pagecount: 88,240 / 279
Joint supervision: No

Formal consistency in pictographic information systems

Research Process (4 methods)

1. Literature review N = x

Exploratory Qualitative

2. Reverse designing N = unspecified

Generative Both Participatory

Examples of pictograms

3. Design project N = 61

Evaluative Qualitative Observational

Undergraduate design students experiment with different design methods

4. Interview N = 3

Evaluative Qualitative Observational

Group of experts

#	Name of Method	Research Phase	Research Approach	Researcher Role	Object of Study / Participants	N
1	Literature review	Exploratory	Qualitative	x	x	x
2	Reverse designing	Generative	Both	Participatory	Examples of pictograms	unspecified
3	Design project	Evaluative	Qualitative	Observational	Undergraduate design students experiment with different design methods	61
4	Interview	Evaluative	Qualitative	Observational	Group of experts	3

Knowledge Transfer & Exchange

Knowledge Exchange (PhD Process): Exchange with Academia

IK&T	Academia	Design Practice	Society
Context	No	No	No
Vision	No	No	No
Means	No	Yes	No

Recommendations (4)

R132 Methodological Evaluation, Monitoring & Impact Priority: High

Replicate pictograms for thematically distinct systems in order to test and verify the design methods identified for universal pictography.

Scope:: Macro
Time Horizon:: Long
Evidence Strength:: Indicative
Feasibility:: High

R133 Evaluation, Monitoring & Impact Theoretical & Conceptual Priority: High

Investigate why the geometric method is the most frequently used when designers are not instructed about the four methods identified in the thesis.

Scope:: Macro
Time Horizon:: Long
Evidence Strength:: Exploratory
Feasibility:: Medium

R134 Theoretical & Conceptual Methodological Priority: High

Study the Pragmatic dimension, following Charles Morris, and relate it to visual perception in order to understand the relationship between symbols and receivers more deeply.

Scope:: Macro
Time Horizon:: Long
Evidence Strength:: Exploratory
Feasibility:: Medium

R135 Evaluation, Monitoring & Impact Methodological Priority: High

Deepen the Semantic dimension through user-centred research, including semantic differentials and cluster analysis.

Scope:: Macro
Time Horizon:: Long
Evidence Strength:: Indicative
Feasibility:: High