Spring 2027

Icons, Symbols, and Pictograms

This course addresses visual communication principles like semiotics and gestalt, applying them to the design of icons, symbols, and pictograms through projects and research.

no offering record for this termCredits unavailable
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 No instructors listed

Summary

What you’ll be able to do

  • Apply basic visual communication principles to the design process.

  • Explore semiotics analysis in relation to forms and messages intended for diverse audiences.

  • Identify the various contexts and functions for which icons, symbols, and pictograms can be designed.

  • Practice the specific techniques and processes that are used in the construction of icons, symbols, and pictograms.

  • Extend knowledge of software used in design practice.

  • Strengthen collaboration and presentation skills.

Source: UW Guide

Grade history

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Prerequisites

Course map

(ART 102 or 107),ART 346 and 438

ART 442

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Professors

Spring 2027

No instructors recorded for this selection.

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Calendar & sections

Spring 2027

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Student experience

the class

Addresses basic visual communication principles that include semiotics, gestalt, form, and context, and applies them to the design of icons, symbols, and pictograms. Cultural, psychological, social, and historical interpretations of these forms are analyzed through design projects, readings, discussion, and research.

difficulty & workload

No workload feedback recorded.

Topics

  • Visual communication principles: semiotics, gestalt, form, and context
  • Design of icons, symbols, and pictograms
  • Cultural, psychological, social, and historical interpretations of visual forms

Skills

  • Designing icons, symbols, and pictograms using visual communication principles
  • Analyzing cultural, psychological, social, and historical interpretations of visual forms
  • Using design software

Grades

Instructor

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Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

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Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-10-14

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Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
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Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

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Model & dataset provenance 
{
  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "7f29f7ab4c4be646a0680441344ab08b2308f7b2ee2fcc3b998c0261f8619c5d",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}