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Tagged: smithsonian

'Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols' at the Cooper Hewitt explores the legacy of design pioneer Henry Dreyfuss

By Josh Niland|

Saturday, Dec 17, 2022

Cover of Henry Dreyfuss' Symbol Sourcebook; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1972-88-1-28; Photo by Matt Flynn; Image © Smithsonian Institution

An exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of Henry Dreyfuss’ influential Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols will debut at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum this spring, highlighting the "untold story" behind the book's creation and resulting sphere of influence.

Organized by associate curator Emily M. Orr, "Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols" will open to the public on May 13th and feature a special trove of never-before-seen materials selected from the institution’s extensive archive of the author and industrial designer. 

Henry Dreyfuss drawing a symbol for the "Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols," ca. 1971; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Image © Smithsonian Institution

The exhibition will chart the history behind various symbols (A raised fist of protest, the Olympic sports symbols, and soon-to-be phased-out Rehabilitation International Accessible Icon) that have shaped our visual language. The usage and minting process of emojis as well as the crowdsourced approach Dreyfuss and his colleagues took in developing their still-in-use guide, will complete the exhibition, which itself is designed with the help of Studio Matthews. 

Poster, Sports Symbols for Munich Olympics, 1972; Designed by Otl Aicher; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Photo by Matt Flynn; Image © Smithsonian Institution

"As communication tools designed to break language barriers, symbols serve a variety of human needs both in daily life and in extraordinary circumstances," Orr, also the acting head of Product Design and Decorative Arts, explained in a preview of the exhibition. "This discipline-defining manual has elevated the importance of symbols and inspired their production and use around the world since its publication in 1972."

Guidance Image, Person with Headscarf Emoji, 2016; Concept by Rayouf Alhumedhi and graphic design by Aphelandra Messer with collaborators Jennifer 8. Lee and Alexis Ohanian for Emojination; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Image: © Emojination

Visitors are also invited to design symbols of their own and contribute to the community creation of the Symbol Sourcebook of 2023 that will accompany the exhibition. 

"Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols" runs until September 2nd of 2024. Information about visiting and the show can be found here.

RELATED NEWS Nader Tehrani, Rural Studio, and David Hertz lead the field of 2022 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award winners
RELATED NEWS Meet the 2021 Cooper Hewitt National Design Awardees
RELATED NEWS Snøhetta, Kickstarter, and OJB Landscape Architecture are among the 2020 Cooper Hewitt National Design Awardees

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cooper hewitt ● exhibition ● smithsonian ● smithsonian design museum ● washington dc ● usa ● event ● graphic design

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'Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols' at the Cooper Hewitt explores the legacy of design pioneer Henry Dreyfuss

By Josh Niland|

Saturday, Dec 17, 2022

Share

Cover of Henry Dreyfuss' Symbol Sourcebook; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1972-88-1-28; Photo by Matt Flynn; Image © Smithsonian Institution

Related

cooper hewitt ● exhibition ● smithsonian ● smithsonian design museum ● washington dc ● usa ● event ● graphic design

An exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of Henry Dreyfuss’ influential Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols will debut at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum this spring, highlighting the "untold story" behind the book's creation and resulting sphere of influence.

Organized by associate curator Emily M. Orr, "Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols" will open to the public on May 13th and feature a special trove of never-before-seen materials selected from the institution’s extensive archive of the author and industrial designer. 

Henry Dreyfuss drawing a symbol for the "Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols," ca. 1971; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Image © Smithsonian Institution

The exhibition will chart the history behind various symbols (A raised fist of protest, the Olympic sports symbols, and soon-to-be phased-out Rehabilitation International Accessible Icon) that have shaped our visual language. The usage and minting process of emojis as well as the crowdsourced approach Dreyfuss and his colleagues took in developing their still-in-use guide, will complete the exhibition, which itself is designed with the help of Studio Matthews. 

Poster, Sports Symbols for Munich Olympics, 1972; Designed by Otl Aicher; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Photo by Matt Flynn; Image © Smithsonian Institution

"As communication tools designed to break language barriers, symbols serve a variety of human needs both in daily life and in extraordinary circumstances," Orr, also the acting head of Product Design and Decorative Arts, explained in a preview of the exhibition. "This discipline-defining manual has elevated the importance of symbols and inspired their production and use around the world since its publication in 1972."

Guidance Image, Person with Headscarf Emoji, 2016; Concept by Rayouf Alhumedhi and graphic design by Aphelandra Messer with collaborators Jennifer 8. Lee and Alexis Ohanian for Emojination; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Image: © Emojination

Visitors are also invited to design symbols of their own and contribute to the community creation of the Symbol Sourcebook of 2023 that will accompany the exhibition. 

"Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols" runs until September 2nd of 2024. Information about visiting and the show can be found here.

RELATED NEWS Nader Tehrani, Rural Studio, and David Hertz lead the field of 2022 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award winners
RELATED NEWS Meet the 2021 Cooper Hewitt National Design Awardees
RELATED NEWS Snøhetta, Kickstarter, and OJB Landscape Architecture are among the 2020 Cooper Hewitt National Design Awardees

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