graafikon

Graafikon is a modular graphic-icon system used in information design and user interfaces to convey complex ideas in compact symbols. It rests on a fixed grid of cells, each hosting a simple primitive such as a dot, line, or corner. By combining multiple primitives within the grid, graafikon icons can encode several attributes—category, status, and relation—while maintaining a consistent visual language that scales from small badges to large signage.

Design and encoding: Graafikon emphasizes vector-based rendering, a limited but expressive set of glyph primitives, and a standardized stroke width. Color, shape, and placement within the grid serve semantic roles: for example, color might indicate type, while the arrangement of elements signals state. The approach prioritizes legibility at small sizes and accessibility, offering high-contrast palettes and alt-text-friendly captions.

Origins and status: The term graafikon appears in design literature as a theoretical concept in iconography and information design. It is not a single, universally adopted standard; rather, it refers to a framework used in several open-source projects and academic discussions to explore scalable, cross-cultural iconography.

Applications: In practice, graafikon-inspired systems support dashboards, mobile interfaces, signage, and data-visualization tools. They enable rapid visual scanning by encoding multiple dimensions in a single symbol, while text labels provide disambiguation. Implementers typically publish a guideline set detailing grid size, permissible primitives, color mappings, and accessibility considerations.