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Facts and data on pictograms Literature

Customs

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Baggage Check, Security Check

Category

Processing Activities, Transport Facilities, Travel

Message / Function

To indicate the location of customs or baggage checking point

 

Source Description
Abdullah & Hübner page 131, Düsseldorf Airport: Pictogram Customs Düsseldorf
Airport		 Person in uniform with arm pointing towards open suitcase, circle above with horizontal bar with round ends inside
UIC 413 Pictogram B.3.7 - Douane - Zoll - CustomsCustoms UIC 413 Person in uniform in side view, with arm pointing towards open suitcase
Hora page 118, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Pictogram Customs PANYNJ Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
NPS Map Symbols, Permits and Regulations: Customs U.S. National
Park Service		 Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
Hora page 159: Chinese Pictogram for Customs CNIS Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
Pictogram INF015 from Bolivia: Customs Bolivia Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
AIGA Symbol Sign No 38: Customs AIGA Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
Eco-Mo Foundation Early Pictogram Design: Customs EMF Pred Human figure wearing tie and peaked cap, with arm in open suitcase
Eco-Mo Foundation Pictogram No B16: Customs Eco-Mo
Foundation		 Human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
Experience Japan Pictograms: Customs, Baggage Check EJP Human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
ISO 7001 Public Information Symbol PI TF 018: Customs or Baggage Check ISO 7001 Human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
BS 8501 Public Information Symbol No 7030: Customs/Security check BS 8501:2002 Side view of human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
Summer Olympics Munich 1972: Pictogram Baggage Check O'72 Side view of human figure wearing peaked cap with arm at open suitcase
Summer Olympics Munich 1972: Pictogram Customs O'72 Side view of human figure wearing peaked cap, round sign ZOLL - DOUANE
Modley & Myers page 71: Early UIC Pictogram for Customs UIC Side view of suitcase with label and round sign ZOLL - DOUANE
Modley & Myers page 71: Picto'grafics Pictogram Customs Picto'grafics Eye above side view of suitcase
20. Convention on Road Signs and Signals: Traffic Sign C,16: Customs UN 1968 Red circle, horizontal bar with round ends and text CUSTOMS in two languages inside
Italian Traffic Sign FIGURA II 96 ART. 123 Customs SVI Red circle, horizontal bar with round ends and text CUSTOMS in two languages inside
Traffic Sign RO-7 Customs from Chile CNFC Red circle, horizontal bar with round ends, text CONTROL ADUANA (CONTROL CUSTOMS) below
Modley & Myers page 71: BAA Symbol Customs BAA Circle, horizontal bar with round ends inside
Symbol GDLS A2-13 Border/Customs Post from South Africa (SADC) SADC Two crossed flagpoles with black flags

Discussion

After the publishing of the AIGA/DOT Symbol Signs Study almost all designers followed the AIGA example, which was derived from the Baggage Check pictogram developed by Otl Aicher for the Summer Olympics in Munich 1972. So there is not much variation concerning the verbal description of the image content for the messages Customs and Baggage Check since then. The collection above illustrates this well.

Data available from a Comprehension Test confirms this practice as appropriate: 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 understood with a comprehension score of 81.7 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001).

Tests of pictograms of referent Customs

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.

 

Updated 2023-09-27 by Ch.Brugger