Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols — Exploring E90th St
Written by: Phil O'Brien. Published: August 14, 2023.
The exhibition — Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols — at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum offers a fascinating look into the world of symbols. As we move through our daily lives, symbols constantly instruct, protect, empower, and connect us in ways we often take for granted. This exhibition explores the history and evolution of symbols from early written languages to modern digital communication.
The starting point for Give Me A Sign exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt. Photo: Phil O'Brien
Marking the 50th anniversary of Henry Dreyfuss's seminal 1972 publication Symbol Sourcebook, the exhibition honors his legacy in elevating and expanding the importance of symbols in design. As an industrial designer, Dreyfuss understood how symbols needed to function intuitively for people and pioneered their use in products like airplanes, cameras and telephones. The exhibition tells the origin story of the Symbol Sourcebook through materials from Dreyfuss's archive at Cooper Hewitt for the first time.
The exhibition explores the use of symbolism in graphic design and art. Photo: Phil O'Brien
As we explored the galleries, we saw how symbols have inspired activism, kept us safe and represented our identities. You can even design your own symbol for a cause or place you care about. By examining both the history and future of these visual tools, Give Me a Sign highlights how symbols bring people together across languages and cultures in our ever-evolving world. The exhibition is at the museum until September 2, 2023. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to design their own signs and symbols. Photo: Phil O'Brien
When we left the exhibition, we turned left along East 90th Street and explored how many signs are all around us…
"Messiah is Here" sign mixed in with street signs at Madison Ave and E90th St. Photo: Phil O'Brien
Neighborhood Loading Zone sign on E90th Street. Photo: Phil O'Brien
Standpipe Fire Hydrant on E90th Street. A sign of wealth? Photo: Phil O'Brien Sidewalk sign for NYC Gas on E90th Street. Photo: Phil O'Brien One of the two Fallout Shelter signs we spotted on E90th St. Photo: Phil O'Brien This sign had a lot more words than symbols to discourage dogs. Photo: Phil O'Brien This face mask sign was still on E90th Street. Photo: Phil O'Brien Crosswalk signs with the hand or walker were along E90th Street. Photo: Phil O'Brien NYC Parks make use of symbols on their signs. Photo: Phil O'Brien The trash litter signs have become universal. Photo: Phil O'Brien This car's tire cover on E90th Street carries a peace symbol. Photo: Phil O'Brien Clearly No Dogs Allowed at this coffee shop on E90th Street. Photo: Phil O'Brien New York car owners know that this about Alternative Side Parking — but the sign is about no parking when street sweeping. Photo: Phil O'Brien Another pandemic remnant. Social distancing sign on E90th Street. Photo: Phil O'Brien Long obsolete call boxes — but the Fire and Police symbols are clear. Photo: Phil O'Brien
