Customise pictograms for a specific purpose

In the previous sections, this research has discussed about the history of pictogram and identified its benefit as the sign in all aspects of life and also research language track for the potential of pictograms replacing linguistic function to cultivate and facilitate understanding. Besides what has mentioned, there were also some projects, which were meant to customise pictograms in assisting those under privilege users that were similar to the use of new medicinal label design to facilitate general public in understand the medical instructions.

According to Edo Smithshuijzen, in the recent years, there was a pictographic sign system called ‘Blissymbolics’ which consist of two thousand signs that were applied in the Ontario Crippled Children’s Centre, Australia to aid diagnosis, therapy and medical instructions for its patient (2007, p.328).

Austrian graphic designer, Lois Lanier created a system called COMPIC, which consisted of one thousand six hundred signs that aims to assist in communication with Children who have physical and mental difficulties.

Peter Houts developed a series of simple drawings that help to communicate with his predominantly AIDS and cancer patients (2007, p.328).

Some of these projects have since been developed to be an augmentative communication resource, which both adults and children can use in a various settings to assist in overcoming literacy difficulties. The pictogram helps to bridge the gap where communication is not occurring. 

One of the good example for the used of pictograms in communicating the functions and usage of the medicine locally is the traditional ointment - Singapore Hong Wei Chong dragon gold standard active oil (龙虎活络油品). It has a long history for its traditional Chinese medicine ointment specialises in relieve pain and alleviate muscle for traumatic bleeding, rheumatism, bruises and swelling. There are a few images on its traditional packaging in full color illustrating the functions of the ointment for older generation, there are similar used of illustration in a modern style to others newer brand Chinese ointment like tiger palm as well. This clearly shown that pictograms have empathetic qualities for creating an atmosphere of mood, where figurative images will stick more easily in the human memory especially work well for elderly. In fact, pictorial representation may enhance recollection of verbal information has long been known in design and communication industry, however there are still much work to be done on pictograms to be incorporated onto medicinal label design to understand how exactly it may work in the local context.