TRICERATOPS in

SYMBOL form

the

a process book

Table of

CONTENTSWhat is a Symbol System? 2

The History of Zoos 4

The Washington National Zoo 6

Project Outline 8

Choosing the Animal 9

Researching the Animal 10

Symbol Development 12

The Final Form 14

In the System 15

Bibliography 17

1

What is a

SYMBOL SYSTEM?SYMBOL SYSTEMS are a communi-

cation tool, a set of common images

that inform users of all ages and

nationalities. All symbols among a

system should be able to commu-

nicate entirely without words, and

should be connected to a larger

system both graphically and func-

tionally. Many symbol systems use

geometric forms and employ the

use of specific shapes and angles to

clearly communicate to the viewer’s

expectation. Some examples of

symbol systems include Egyptian

hieroglyphics, astrological symbols,

Braille, and mathematical notation.

THE SIGNS below are part of a sym-

bol system created by the American

Institute for Graphic Arts and the

U.S. Department of Transportation.

Using a common grid structure and

simple images rendered in black and

white, these symbols are used inter-

nationally to guide people of all ages

and cultures through public settings.

BRAILLE, invented in 1825 by the French man Louis Braille, uses a system of

raised dots positioned in two columns of six dots each. This symbol system

helps those who are visually impaired read, write, and communicate.

PERHAPS one of the oldest methods

of writing (dating back to approxi-

mately 3,200 BC), Egyptian hiero-

glyphics are a symbol system of

pictures representing words and

ideas. The entire system, decoded

with the help of the Rosetta Stone in

the early nineteenth century, contains

anywhere from 700 to 800 symbols. 2 3

HISTORY OF ZOOSthe

4

THE DESIRE to hunt and keep

animals as a way to control their

procreation has been a common

practice since Neolithic times. The

oldest known zoological sites, known

as menageries, date back to ancient

Egypt and China, circa 3,500 BC.

Here, exotic animals, such as hippos,

baboons, wildcats, and elephants

were displayed by the wealthy as a

sign of power and prestige. Later,

during the reign of Alexander the

Great, exotic animals were put on

display in Greece and Rome.

IN ANCIENT TIMES, animals were

often viewed as living trophies, pro-

claiming the victory of humans over

the wild. They symbolized power and

luxury, and were commonly dis-

played as a form of entertainment.

Menageries were also common

among the European aristocracy of

the sixteenth through eighteenth

centuries. Henry I of England kept

a collection of lions, camels, and

leopards at his home and, later, King

John I housed an exotic collection of

animals at the Tower of London.

5

DURING the early part of the nine-

teenth century, the modern zoo

emerged in London, Dublin, and

Paris. These displays were open to a

broad audience—many people living

in the countryside visited zoological

sites as a form of leisure.

LATER, in the early twentieth century,

a German man by the name of Carl

Hagenbeck founded the first zoo

that displayed animals in habitats

that were comparable to their homes

in the wild. During the 1970’s, the

desire to house animals as a means

of ecological conservation emerged.

Zoological sites focused on the

protection of all living organisms

that were housed within their walls.

With the help of these conservato-

ries, many animals that may have

gone extinct in the wild have been

kept alive. Zoos of today employ

an extensive staff to care for their

animals. Furthermore, by opening

to the public, they have become an

exotic place of research, education

and conservation.

IN 1973, designer Lance Wyman

created a way finding system for

the Washington National Zoo. The

symbol system (below) uses simpli-

fied profiles of the animals rendered

in black and white. The designer

used a combination of straight and

organic lines to portray the animals

according to viewer expectation.

IN ADDITION to the symbol system,

the Washington National Zoo also

uses two entry signs, six directory

maps, a series of animal footprints,

twelve totem poles, and a custom-

ized font to guide visitors through

the zoo in an efficient manner.

FOUNDED in 1889, the Washington

National Zoo is one of the oldest

existing zoos in the world. As part

of the Smithsonian Institution, the

entire zoo houses over two thousand

animals, many that are endangered

or threatened. They are well known

for their giant panda exhibit, but are

home to a plethora of animals, in-

cluding Asian elephants, great apes,

flamingoes, and even some insects.

ALL ANIMALS at the Washington

National Zoo are housed in settings

that are conducive to their home in

the wild. In addition, the zoo be-

lieves in educating the public about

the animal kingdom; they offer free

admission to all and educational

programs for families and teachers.

WHAT IS A “WAY FINDING” SYSTEM?

A way finding system is a method of

organizing information in a particular

setting. It helps people find their

location, determine where they are

going, and reach their destination in

the most efficient way possible.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL ZOO

the

6 7

Symbol Development

PROJECT OUTLINEC

HO

OSIN

G A

NIM

AL

THE GOAL of this process is to

choose an extinct animal or dinosaur

to integrate into the already existing

symbol system of the Washington

National Zoo. A black and white

symbol using a mixture of curved

and straight lines will produce a

rendering of the animal closest to

the viewer’s expectation. Careful

attention is to be paid to the bal-

ance of black and negative space,

how the symbol looks when it is

decreased and increased in size, the

profile of the animal, and the ani-

mal’s distinguishing features. To fulfill

this expectation, extensive research

and careful hand-drawn outlines of

the animal are crucial. After initial

sketches and roughs are critiqued,

they will be brought into Adobe

Illustrator to refine.

THE FINAL STEP in this process is

the integration of the new symbol

into the already existing symbol sys-

tem of the Washington National Zoo.

S

IZE

B

EA

K

H

OR

NS

F

RIL

L

EAT FIGHT MATE DEFEND

the

98

THIS PROCESS involved the

integration of the dinosaur

triceratops into the symbol

system. Before beginning

initial sketches, a matrix was

created to understand the

characteristics of this animal

and highlight when and how

often they were used.

EMPHASIS In development, it

was necessary to pay close

attention to the defining

features of the triceratops: the

horns, frill, beak, and size. To

help establish these charac-

teristics, careful attention was

paid to the rhinoceros in the

existing symbol system.

Researching the Animal TRICERATOPSA LONG, LONG TIME AGO, during

the Mesozoic era, dinosaurs roamed

the earth. Existing near the end

of the Cretaceous period approxi-

mately 72 to 65 million years ago,

the triceratops was one of thelast

dinosaurs to go extinct. During

the Cretaceous period, tempera-

tures were warm and ferns and

vegetation flourished in a swamp-

like atmosphere.

THE WORD triceratops is Greek for

“three horned face.” Of the family

Ceratopsidae, the triceratops bore

resemblance to the modern day

rhinoceros because of its massive

horns and overall size, both of which

were used for self-defense and to

attract and fight for mates.

WHEN THREATENED, the tricer-

atops was ferocious. Because of its

intimidating horns and huge frill,

it often scared away predators. In

additon, the frill and horns may have

been used to defend itself from the

massive Tyrannosaurus Rex, who also

lived during the Cretaceous Period.

TRICERATOPS was one of the world’s

largest dinosaurs. Weighing between

six and twelve tons, an adult was ap-

proximately thirty feet long and ten

feet tall. In addition, the skull of the

triceratops was massive. Over one-

third the length of its entire body,

the skull could reach over seven

feet long.

BECAUSE of the abundance of veg-

etation during the Cretaceous

period, the triceratops ate mostly

plants and leafy vegetables, such as

ferns and flowering shrubs. This

dinosaur used its beak-like mouth

and powerful jaw to eat its food.

THE TRICERATOPS went extinct

around 65 million years ago when

a massive asteroid hit the earth,

causing nearly seventy percent of all

life forms to go extinct. Triceratops

fossils have been found primarily in

North America, specifically in west-

ern Canada and the western United

States, including Wyoming, Mon-

tana, Colorado, and South Dakota.

1110

Symb

ol D

evelop

ment

ILLUSTRATO

R THU

MBN

AILS

Symbol Development

SKETCHES & ROUGHSAFTER RESEARCHING the animal,

sketches were made in the likeness

of the existing symbol system.

Special emphasis was placed on the

horns, frill, beak, and massive body

size of the triceratops. The initial

sketches (below) were then critiqued

by fellow designers.

IN A PROCESS such as this, it is

important to approach the initial

stages with vigor. It was necessary

to try many different strategies for

addressing the distinguishing char-

acteristics of this animal. The central

point of discussion among fellow

designers was the positioning of the

horns in relation to the frill, as well

as the orientation of the beak. Many

of the animals in the already existing

symbol system have closed mouths,

but because the triceratops was a

ferocious animal, the beak was left

open in many of the initial sketches.

It was also decided that one of the

horns be eliminated in this render-

ing, as having only one large horn

alludes to another. Special attention

was also paid to the height

and weight of the frill, and

whether or not it had spikes.

NEXT, the symbol was brought

into Adobe Illustrator, where

it was outlined using the pen

tool. A few tweaks were made,

and the symbol was again

critiqued. Many of the initial

Illustrator thumbnails (below)

highlighted the significant

characteristics of this animal.

The straight line behind the

frill, as well as the choice to

push the animal to the far

left of the space, empha-

sized the massive size of this

dinosaur. Furthermore, the

animal’s large neck was made

to exit the space horizontally,

(rather than at the corner) to

suggest its aggressive nature.

FINALLY, a decision was made

to keep the eye a half circle

to maintain cohesion with the

existing system.

1312

FINAL FORM IN

SYST

EM

UPON further refinement in Adobe Illustrator, a final form was

rendered to enhance integration with the existing system. The

beak was closed, some of the organic lines were eliminated,

and another straight line was added to the horn. In addition,

the frill of the animal was heightened and drawn with a reduced

curve. Sharp corners were softened, and the image was pushed

slightly to the left, to emphasize the animal’s size and agression.

the

Symbol Development

the

1514

BIB

LIOG

RA

PHY

Baratay, Eric, and Elisabeth Hardouin-Fugier. Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West. London: Reaktion, 2002.

Gomez-Palacio, Bryony, and Armin Vit. Graphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to the Language, Applications, and History of Graphic Design. Beverly, MA: Rockport, 2009.

National Zoological Park, Washington Zoo. Bill Cannan & Company. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://billcannandesign.com/zoo.html>.

Rothfels, Nigel. Savages and Beasts: The Birth of the Modern Zoo. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins UP, 2002.

“The Cretaceous Period.” UCMP. 05 May 2012. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mesozoic/cretaceous/cretaceous.php>.

“Triceratops Fact Sheet.” Enchanted Learning. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/facts/Triceratops/>.

“Triceratops Horridus.” National Geographic. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefea-ture/triceratops-horridus/>.

“Symbol Signs.” AIGA. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. <http://www.aiga.org/symbol-signs/>.

1716

RACHEL BRANDENBERGERWritten and designed by

graphic design I, 2012