Sunday, August 8, 2010

Symbols of Superstition

A black cat
The black cat is a symbol for bad luck, especially if you see one cross the road in front of you. You then have to spit three times over your left shoulder.
As well, the black cat is a symbol for witches. If you choose to believe in it a black cat is actually a witch transformed during the day. Same here as with the horseshoe, I do not know if this is a typical Swedish superstition (the part with the witches).
Horseshoe
It is said that the one who finds a horseshoe gets lucky and protected against
accidents. You have to nail the horseshoe on a wall inside your home, preferably
over a door, with the ends pointing up so the luck does not fall out.
If this is a unique tradition for Sweden alone I do not know, but there is
a lot of lores about the horseshoe.
Horoscope
Horoscopes has its roots in astrology and is an interpretation of sun signs and stars that is said to affect us.

Four-leaf Clover
According to the tradition it is supposed to give luck to the one who find a clover with four-leaf.


Sunday, August 1, 2010

Group Symbols

Group Symbol.
I tried to count the other day on how many groups i actually belong to. Think I found about 3 on the top of my head and then it became really hard to think about another one. This was before I started to open my mind and see more things as symbols. Every car brand that has a symbol divides people into groups. If you have a Volvo, you want to be a part of a group that values safety. If you have a Porsche, you want to be in a group that does not care if you get a parking ticket. Suddenly there was endless possibilities and here follows 5 examples.

"Dalahästen" Dala Horse Symbol. A Swedish symbol for the state Dalarna, but has been
more or less adapted as a international symbol for Sweden as a country.
Jesus Symbol. A symbol for Christianity, has to be one of
the most recognisable symbols.
Rastafarian symbol (Bob Marley as a symbolic figure). If you are rastafari,
you are a part of a group who has another point of view and values then others.
Ferrari symbol. Shows that you are a part of a specific group of people
that can afford this car, a symbol of high status.
Mac symbol. Shows that you're no PC user and that you want to be
associated with certain things and a certain lifestyle.

Tribe values and logo

The paragraph, sentence and word (Forward). Sketches on a symbol.
My Values (as a part of a group)

Group Values

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Directional Symbols

Directional Symbols
Symbols and signs that tells us where to go surrounds us
all. When you go to school, or your job, you probably use more of
these than you can imagine. With these five examples I've tried to
go deeper into more detailed symbols, i.e the symbols that shows you
where you should put your coins when you buy a bus ticket.

A symbol of a hand that shows direction
with the index finger where you need
to press when you make a phone call
at a pay phone.

A gender symbol/sign at the toilet that
shows people in what direction they
should go to use to correct bathroom.

A directional symbol on a fire extinguisher
that shows you in what direction you should
aim at the fire. Consider the possibility that
one who does not have english skills
can see this and still understand.

This green light for pedestrians
shows us when and where to cross.

A pair of legs that shows you
where to cross the street.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Tangrams

6. Appliance
Blender.

5. Vehicle
Truck or a camper.

4. Face
Happy man with combed hair

3. Flower
Rose in flowerpot.

2. Super hero
Superman w. bandana.

1. Animal
Some sort of cow.