Glossary A–ZLetter P
Pictogram
A pictogram is a simplified symbol that conveys a piece of information, a place or an action without words, for example for toilets, lifts, exits or no smoking.
Good pictograms are independent of language and understandable at a glance.
On screens, pictograms help in wayfinding systems, on door signs, in menus to indicate allergens or diets, and in multilingual settings. They save space and can often be grasped faster than text from a distance. Safety signs such as escape routes or fire extinguishers are standardised in ISO 7010 and have defined shapes and colours.
Operators should use familiar, consistent symbols rather than inventing their own, because an unfamiliar symbol first has to be interpreted. A pictogram alone is not enough for every message; for people with visual impairments and for anything ambiguous, a short text alongside is helpful. Required safety signage belongs on the wall as fixed signs: a screen can supplement it but not replace it, because it can fail or be switched off.