Facts and data on pictograms
Synonyms / Other Terms Used
Strongbox, Safe Deposit Box, Room Safe, Vault
Category
Travel, Tourism, Commercial facilities
Message / Function
To indicate the availability or location of a safe-deposit box for storage of money or valuables
| Source | Description | |
|---|---|---|
 |
ÖNORM A 3011 | Safe with opened door showing four locking bolts, plus banknote and coin in front |
 |
ON Testdesign | Safe behind banknote and coin |
 |
Dreyfuss | Safe door with $-sign within circle |
 |
ON Testdesign | Keyhole and key inside outline rectangle |
 |
ON Testdesign | Numeric keypad and keyhole inside rounded outline rectangle |
 |
HSSS | Diamond shape and $ sign in outline rectangle with key above rectangle |
 |
ON Testdesign | Necklace in outline rectangle with key above rectangle |
 |
ON Testdesign | Banknotes in outline rectangle with key above rectangle |
 |
Aicher & Krampen |
Vault with three dial locks and four spoke handle |
 |
ON Testdesign | Safe with opened door showing four locking bolts |
Discussion
Comprehensibility estimates (Brugger, 1999) were better for pictogram variants that visually resemble a safe than for variants following the often used locker symbol based on an outline rectangle with key above. Some respondents thought that the variant at the bottom of the table above with an image of a safe with an open door, labeled as ON Testdesign, looked like an image of a computer rotated by 90 degrees. It seems that indicating money (banknote, coin or currency mark) in combination with the image of a safe works best.
The topmost pictogram in this table reached almost perfect results when tested for comprehension (Brugger, 2000). In the same study the numeric keypad inside a rounded outline rectangle was interpreted as telephone by some respondents and the variant with keyhole and key inside outline rectangle created some responses associated with locking the door of the hotel room.
Recommendation
Based on the test results available, we recommend the use of pictogram No 168 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 11, designed by Karl Scheiber. It reaches excellent comprehensibility due to the combination of the image of a safe with an opened massive door showing locking bolts, plus a banknote and coin in front of the safe.
In this case the use of perspective to emphasize the massive door with it's locking bolts seems to help getting the message across.
Tests of pictograms of referent Safe
Brugger: Ch. (1999): Verständnisschätzungen - Projekt 1999. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute dated December 1999.
Brugger: Ch. (2000): Verständlichkeitstest ON 2000. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated November 2000, Vienna.
Updated 2023-06-23 by Ch.Brugger