mikewhobikes

When choosing a symbol to communicate a new concept we may be faced with two alternatives. We can select a commonly used, preexisting symbol that doesn’t quite fit the message. Or, a new symbol can be created that clearly communicates the concept but is not as recognizable. Which is best?

For Example: Hand Signals

Cyclists use hand signals to indicate a lane change or upcoming turn. For the safety of both cyclist and motorists it’s important that whatever signal is chosen is as unambiguous as possible.

The conventional signal for a right turn is to hold the left arm upright with the elbow bent at a right angle. This is a hand-me-down from signals designed for motorists who — at least in this part of the world — are unable to reach across and point out of the passenger-side window to indicate a right turn.

However, given the context of being on a bicycle, this limitation no longer exists. A cyclist can simply hold out their right arm and point in that direction to indicate a right turn.

Which is the correct choice? Although using the left arm is the “official” signal, I think it’s much clearer to point with the right arm. It’s unambiguous and doesn’t require driver to have any knowledge of hand signals to understand the cyclist’s intent.

Extending this example to design in general, I’d say that context should always be taken into consideration before using any pre-existing symbol. Unless the symbol communicates the message perfectly, it’s worth looking into other options. When symbols are used repeatedly to convey slightly different messages their strength slowly erodes until they become generic and meaningless altogether.