Signs

A sign is a perceptible mark, gesture, sound, image, or object that conveys information, instruction, or meaning. Signs can be natural, such as smoke indicating fire, or conventional, created by societies to communicate specific ideas. In linguistics and semiotics, a sign links a signifier (the form) to a signified (the concept).

Signage refers to the systematic use of signs in public spaces to guide, warn, or inform. This includes traffic signs, safety signs, and informational panels. Good signage prioritizes legibility, concise wording, standardized shapes and colors, and accessibility for people with visual or cognitive impairments. International norms often govern traffic signs (e.g., red stop signs, triangular warnings).

Semiotics distinguishes sign types. In the work of Charles Peirce, signs are categorized as icons (resemble what they signify), indexes (directly linked through cause or context), and symbols (arbitrarily linked by convention). Ferdinand de Saussure describes the sign as the union of signifier and signified within a linguistic system. Together, signs function through social conventions and contextual interpretation.

Signs appear in everyday life, media, advertising, architecture, and digital interfaces. They can be culturally specific and require localization; misinterpretations can arise from language differences, icons not understood, or poor design. Ethical aspects include avoiding misleading signage and ensuring universal design standards.