Could symbols someday form a language that is equivalent to a spoken tongue? Could an organized system of symbols form a sort of visual Esperanto?
Projects such as The Noun Project are working toward that goal. No-word logos such as designs used by Apple and Mastercard show that it works on a commercial level. Learn how everything from emojis to corporate logos is driving plurilingual communication forward.
The goal of The Noun Project, mentioned in the previous article, is to build a global visual language that unites all people. Designers from anywhere in the world can upload symbols and icons that they create to represent very specific activities or concepts—sawing or world health, for instance.
Not only is the library helpful for other designers, but the growing visual collection can also benefit people who have difficulty reading written language. It also leapfrogs over barriers that foreign languages present to all peoples.