Lawn

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Public Green Space, Sunbathing Area

Category

Public Facilities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

To indicate public green space designated for relaxation and lying in the grass

	Source	Description
	ÖNORM A 3011	Side view of human figure resting, several elements indicating grass and flowers
*)	ON Testdesign	Side view of human figure resting, several elements indicating grass and flowers
*)	ON Testdesign	Side view of human figure resting, several elements indicating grass and flowers
*)	ON Testdesign	Side view of human figure resting, several elements indicating grass and flowers
1)	Unknown	Side view of human figure resting, vertical lines indicating grass, flower above
2)	ON Testdesign	Side view of human figure resting, several elements indicating grass
3)	ON Testdesign	Side view of human figure resting, short vertical lines indicating grass
4)	PKST	Side view of human figure resting, horizontal bar indicating ground
5)	Kärnten	Side view of human figure resting, dots and lines indicating grass
	Aicher OAP	Sun, side view of human figure lying, short bent lines indicating grass
6)	Aicher & Krampen	Side view of human figure lying
7)	DIN X	Sun, side view of sunchair
	Bad Grönenbach	Side view of tree and sun lounger
	Elbhavelwinkel	Side view of human figure on sun lounger, parasol
8)	Unknown	Sunchair
	DIN X	Sun and flower
	Dutchicon	Side view of pointed grass

Discussion

The range of pictograms shown in the table above gives a good hint of the range of variants and image contents available for this referent. While quite a number of pictogram variants - most designed in the context of a project of the Austrian Standards Institute to develop a graphic symbol for the message Liegewiese (German for a meadow or lawn established or designated for relaxing and lying in the grass) - show renderings of a human figure resting, plus several elements indicating grass and flowers, some focus on displaying a sunchair or sun lounger, optionally combined with other elements like a tree, the sun, or a parasol.

To reduce the number of pictograms for detailed research on comprehensibility, Brugger (1984) examined eight pictogram variants on basis of an Appropriateness Ranking Test conducted in Austria. In the table above these pictograms are marked with 1) to 8) according to their scaled ranks resulting from the judged appropriateness to indicate a public green space specified for relaxation and resting in the grass.

On basis of these results new pictograms were designed and then the three variants labeled with *) in the table above were tested for understandability using a Comprehension Test. In this study all proved to be well comprehensable, as more than 90 % of the responses could be classified as correct applying lenient scoring.

Just showing pointed grass, as shown in the variant at the bottom of the table and labeled Dutchicon, might result in confusions with Marsh, for example.

Recommendations

Lawn

Based on test results available we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to public information symbol No 121 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 7 to indicate a public green space designated for relaxation and lying in the grass.

Tests of pictograms of referent Lawn

Brugger, Ch. (1984): Reihungstest 1984. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated 19/84, Vienna.

Brugger, Ch. (1990): Abschlußbericht über den Verständnistest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated 10/90, Vienna.