“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind.
Do this! Don’t do that! Can’t you read the sign? ”
I apologize in advance if today’s blog post gives you an earworm! But this old gem by the Canadian band, Five Man Electrical Band, is the perfect musical accompaniment to this blog post. As the story goes, Les Emmerson, the band’s frontman, wrote Signs back in 1970 in response to all the signs blocking the scenery as he was driving from Ottawa, Ontario to Los Angeles, California.
While I dislike disruptive signs as much as Emmerson did, it would be a mistake to dismiss all signs as visual clutter. Traffic and road signs, for instance, are essential for regulating road use and ensuring safety. Wayfinding and directional signs are needed to guide people to specific destinations. Warning signs alert people to potential hazards or dangers. Despite the important role they can play, most signs are rather mundane and unremarkable. Yet, every once in a while, a sign stands out from the crowd and catches my eye. I’d like to share some of these signs in this blog post.
First up, is this Tsunami Hazard Zone warning sign I spotted in Phuket Thailand. The unfamiliar graphic caught my eye. As someone who often travels to locations where I don’t speak the local language, I have developed a deep appreciation for an effective visual sign. But I didn’t recognize this particular graphic and, without the English words, I wouldn’t have understood the important warning about earthquakes and tsunamis.
On the other hand, this next sign, spotted along the Nakasendo Trail between Tsumago and Magome in Japan, was understood instantly. Hikers do not need to read Japanese to understand there is a danger of falling rocks. Interestingly, this sign utilized a charming sketch instead of the standard symbol for falling rocks. The novelty of the graphic made the sign all the more effective.
Hikers also did not need to read Japanese to understand there was a risk of bears along this trail. The sign pictured below advises caution due to a “Bear Infestation”. Thankfully, there were bear bells located along the trail with clear instructions in English to “Ring the bell hard against Bears”. Believe me, we did!
Shown below is another sign that didn’t require a lot of words―although the rather macabre tractor graphic did require a double take. Apparently, dog-walkers on the dykelands around Grand Pré, Nova Scotia should stay clear of farm tractors!
In the world of visual communications, pictograms are used to represent words, phrases and ideas. The image can be an obvious representation of a physical item or situation or it can suggest an idea or practice. Some pictograms are commonly understood to symbolize specific ideas, objects or relationships. The graphic pictured below is a case in point.
I spotted this sign in the spectacular Sagrada Família in Barcelona Spain. The image at the top of the sign―an index finger placed vertically in front of a closed mouth―is commonly understood to mean “Quiet Please”.
This sign also includes the beautifully-worded English explanation “The church is a place for prayer and silence and reflection. We invite you to make use of it, but we would ask you to show all due respect.” It is a far cry from the “Do this! Don’t do that!” signs Emmerson bemoans in his song.
I’ve spotted a few variations of the “Quiet Please” pictogram. Here’s one from the Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde in Bruges, Belgium which is a quiet haven for lay religious women dating back to 1244.
And here’s a “Quiet Please” pictogram from the Sungei Bulah Wetland Reserve in Singapore.
According to Pictograms.Info, there is no single universal standard symbol for “Quiet Please”. Pictograms.Info is a noncommercial website described as “an authoritative guide presenting facts and studies about pictograms and public information symbols, based on research and extensive testing in many countries”. It is the best online resource I could find for identifying uncommon symbols―like the one pictured below from the Teide National Park in Tenerife, Canary Islands. It’s not a symbol I recognized and not one I would have understood without the written warning “Do not venture out on your own in the National Park when foggy or at night”.
There was no need to consult an online resource for this symbol which I first spotted in London, England.
Some time ago, a friend of mine (I’m looking at you, Vicki!) started collecting photos of funny signs. I shared the below photo from Hengevelde, Netherlands with her. It is still one of my favorites because it communicates so much with just a single illustration. “NIETS ER IN … NEITS ER UIT!” translates to “Nothing in. Nothing out.” but the viewer doesn’t need to know that to understand the warning.
I also like the sign pictured below but for a completely different reason. This sign, displayed at ground level along a walkway in the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in North Carolina, issues a rare invitation for people to actually walk on the grass.
Here’s another sign which made me stop and take notice. It’s not every day you see a sign addressed to dogs―“ATTENTION Dogs. Grrrrr woof bark Good Dog.”. Apparently, the folks in the Town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia have a good sense of humor.
There’s something to be admired in a sign which can effectively communicate complicated instructions. For instance, a sign at the entrance to the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo explains the correct way for worshippers to wash their hands and mouth in the Shinto rite of purification.
As explained on the Japan Avenue blog in their article on the Japanese Shinto Religion, “In Japan, the kami are ambivalent entities. They must be worshipped and above all not offended at the risk of attracting a bad spell (tatari). … On the walkway leading to the main building (sando) [of a Shinto shrine] we find the chozuya, a basin filled with water with large ladles that are used for physical and spiritual purification before presenting oneself to the kami. This is the place where worshippers wash their hands and mouths to rid themselves of all defilements.”
Reading from right to left, the illustrations in the below sign demonstrate the following six steps:
1. Using your right hand, pick up the ladle handle, scoop water and rinse your left hand (away from the basin).
2. Switch ladle to your left hand, and rinse your right hand.
3. Switch ladle back to your right hand, scoop water into your left hand.
4. Raise water to your mouth and sip a small amount to rinse (spit out water away from basin).
5. Scoop water and rinse your left hand again.
6. Hold the ladle upright so the remaining water cleanses the ladle before returning it to its place.
A surprising number of the signs which catch my attention involve animals and the proper treatment of wildlife. This charming sign reminds visitors to the Sungei Bulah Wetland Reserve in Singapore to “Care for nature”.
This sign from the Phuket Butterfly Garden & Insect World in Thailand instructs visitors not to separate mating butterflies.
The next image shows a few more wildlife signs from Japan. The “caution crow” sign was spotted the Hirosaki Botanical Garden in Hirosaki where, apparently, crows can swoop and dive at their adversaries to scare them away. The “Do Not Feed Cats” and “Beware of Boars and Monkeys!” signs were seen at the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine in Kyoto. The sign with the bird, spotted in Tokyo, was a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s a warning to not feed the pigeons for several reasons including that their droppings can cause damage to balconies and laundry.
The “PLEASE DO NOT ENTER. HENS @ WORK” sign pictured below is another favorite. It was taken a few years ago at the Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, Georgia. The egg laying area is off limits to all visitors including the barnyard’s roosters!
This next sign at the Sungei Bulah Wetland Reserve in Singapore warns visitors about the danger of crocodiles. Notice the effectiveness of that simple red triangle with the sketched crocodile and the two-word warning to “WATCH IT!”.
In contrast, this sign spotted in Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, relies on only English words to warn visitors about the danger of alligators and snakes.
Given the proliferation of signs calling for our attention, designing a sign that gets noticed and effectively communicates a serious danger must be challenging.
This next sign, a life-sized cutout of a motorcycle and rider, was spotted along the busy streets of Barcelona Spain. It was easy to overlook at first, but once noticed, it was impossible not to look more closely. Translated into English, the sign sponsored by the Barcelona City Council, reads “IN BARCELONA, 21 MOTORCYCLISTS ARE INJURED EVERY DAY. Let’s reduce motorcycle accidents in Barcelona.”
This sign, spotted in Singapore, clearly communicates serious business.
Cape Spear in Newfoundland is Canada’s most easterly point of land. It’s a popular destination but the rugged coastline can be dangerous. Several signs warn visitors to stay on designated trails and never go near the water. One line on the red sign pictured below includes the dire warning “People have DIED here after being swept from the rocks by ocean waves!” This is not an exaggeration―sadly, just last month, a 22-year-old woman was tragically swept into the ocean to her death while walking along the shoreline at Cape Spear.
Similar dangers exist and similar tragedies have occurred at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. This sign “DANGER! DEATH HAS OCCURRED HERE” stresses the severity of the risks.
People often underestimate the unpredictability and danger of the ocean so well-placed signs with universally-understood symbols and warnings are necessary. But not all signs are so well considered. For instance, this “PLEASE STAY ON TRAIL” sign was spotted at a remote point of an 8-kilometer (5 mile) rugged coastline trek in one of Nova Scotia’s provincial parks. I don’t know why this sign was deemed necessary and I can’t fairly judge its effectiveness. But every time I look at this photo, Emmerson’s song lyrics, “Blockin’ out the scenery. Breakin’ my mind.” go on auto-repeat in my head.
More Info
Special thanks to my friend, Vicki, for getting me started on my worldwide search for funny and interesting signs.
The following books and articles were consulted in the writing of this blog post:
. Pictograms.Info is a noncommercial website described as “an authoritative guide presenting facts and studies about pictograms and public information symbols, based on research and extensive testing in many countries”. I found it very helpful for identifying pictograms and symbols used on signs.
. Japanese Shinto Religion article on Japan Avenue website.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Signs serve many important purposes such as regulating traffic and road use, providing directions, supplying instructions and warning of hazards and danger.
2. Despite the proliferation of signs calling for our attention, it would be a mistake to dismiss all signs as visual clutter.
3. It is a challenge to design a sign that gets noticed and effectively communicates the desired message.
