graphical symbols

Well-designed safety symbols look simple, but getting there is anything but. This column examines how ISO's graphical symbol standards guide the redesign of shipboard safety icons, from assembly points to radiotelephone markers, and why engineers should build on established symbol elements rather than start from scratch.

"CAUTION – HOT" gets the job done, but does it meet current standards? This article explores ISO and IEC graphical symbols for thermal hazards, label placement strategies for high-heat environments, and material choices that hold up when the surface itself is the danger.

Why does the electrical hazard symbol look exactly the way it does? Discover how safety symbols migrate between IEC and ISO standards, the science of icon design for instant recognition, and why exactness in standardization could save lives.