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Cloakroom

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Checkroom, Coat Check, Coatroom, Wardrobe, Garderobe

Category

Public Facilities

Message / Function

To indicate the location of facilities, where coats, bags, and and other personal things can be left temporarily

 

Source Description
ISO 7001 Public Information Symbol PI PF 024: Cloakroom ISO 7001 Coat hanger, bag and hat
Hora page 153: CNIS Pictogram Cloakroom CNIS Coat hanger, bag and hat
Eco-Mo Foundation: Pictogram A31 - Cloakroom Eco-Mo
Foundation		 Coat hanger and bag
Modley & Myers page 126: Pictogram Cloakroom X'67 Coat hanger on rail
ERCO Pictogram No 210: Cloakroom Erco Coat hanger
Modley & Myers page 124, Olympic Winter Games 1972 in Sapporo: Dressing Room WO'72 Coat hanger
Modley & Myers page 91, Summer Olympics Tokyo 1964: Dressing Room O'64 Coat hanger
Hora page 89: Parks Canada Pictogram Cloakroom PC Coat hanger
AIGA Symbol Sign No 7: Coat Check AIGA Coat hanger
Carbon Design System: Pictogram Cloakroom Carbon Coat hanger
Abdullah & Hübner page 127: Pictogram Cloakroom Köln/Bonn Coat hanger
BSI 8501 Public Information Symbol No 6030: Cloakroom BS 8501:2002 Coat hanger
UIC Pictogram B.10.12 - Cloakroom UIC Coat hanger
Hora page 128: Pictogram Coat Check TCRP Coat hanger

Discussion

The collection above indicates that there seems to exist a clear visual stereotyp for the message Cloakroom or Checkroom: a coat hanger. In several pictogram systems one or two elements were added to avoid confusions with Dressing / Change Room, but care has to be taken to get to close to the image content of the referent Lost and Found. In addition the AIGA Symbol Signs Committee also proposed that the hook should face to the right to avoid confusions with a question mark.

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be well comprehensable with a comprehension score of 74.0 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001).

Recommendations

AIGA Symbol Sign No 7: Coat Check

As handbags often are not left at the wardrobe, we recommend using a pictogram similar to the version proposed by AIGA.

Furthermore we recommend comparing this variant on basis of a Comprehension Test with pictograms showing a characteristic hanger as used in a checkroom and add additional elements like a hat or a bag differing from typical women's handbags to clarify this subject and support or correct this recommendation.

Tests of pictograms of referent Cloakroom, Checkroom, Coat Check

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

See also

Lost and Found

 

Updated 2023-02-03 by Ch.Brugger