8/10/2023 0 Comments Glyphs meaning![]() ![]() The way glyphs change is important to the overall concept of print design because these symbols are a huge part of print. This “evolution” of the ampersand, as you can see, depicts the various forms this symbol took on. The original versions of the ampersand literally look like the letters E and T put together, but as time went on, the ampersand became more stylized and morphed into the symbol we are familiar with today: &. The ampersand began as a representation of the Latin word “et” which means “and”. ![]() The ampersand is most commonly considered a logogram, because (as Encyclopedia Britannica says) it is a “written or pictorial symbol intended to represent a whole word.” Whether you call it a logogram or a form of punctuation, the ampersand is a symbol that has a long history. Punctuation is a type of symbol that certainly contributes to the overall meaning of whatever is being written, and can therefore be considered a glyph.Īn interesting example of the ever-changing nature of glyphs comes from the history of the ampersand, the form of punctuation that represents the conjunction word “and”. But, an exclamation point wouldn’t be out of place on the cover of a comic book or even certain movie posters. If there were a print advertisement for a funeral home, adding an exclamation point or two would contribute the wrong idea towards the ultimate advertisement (because seriously, no one should be that excited about funerals). Punctuation, for example, can be seen as a glyph, because it contributes to the meaning of the writing itself. These symbols, in the context of print design, represent a whole slew of possibilities. These hieroglyphs from the Vatican Museum show the varying symbols utilized by Egyptians.Ī glyph, properly defined by Webster, is “an element of writing: an individual mark on a written medium that contributes to the meaning of what is written.” The glyphs I’m referring to, however, range far and wide and include many different things. These symbols were strung together to form full concepts, but instead of our modern alphabet, they involved pictures. Hieroglyphs, originating in Egypt, were a form of writing involving images that created an alphabet of phonetic sounds. These symbols, in the most ancient form, are hieroglyphs. These symbols range from marketing purposes all the way to simple decoration, but in the past, symbols were used largely for those who couldn’t read and even as a form of reading itself. ![]() A large part of print design comes in the form of symbols and images that represent a larger idea or concept. The Nike “swoosh” is a symbol representing an idea (in this case, a brand). When you see this form you immediately know what it represents, right? It represents the company Nike. A rather interesting and often overlooked aspect of print design comes in the form of, well… forms. ![]()
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