Isotype Movement

Isotype movement

The original name was the Viena Method; the movement was named Isotype after Neurath had moved to Holland. Isotype contribution to visual communication is the set of conventions to formalize the use of pictorial language of connection images to create an organized structure.

The movement was developed to create a world language without words; it began in the 1920s and continued till the 1940s, it still influences designers today. The Isotype is a concept that involves the use of elementary pictographs as a means to translate information. The individual who created this movement was a sociologist in Vienna Otto Neurath, who as a child was amazed by visual means. Neurath felt that there should be change to social and economics, World War I requested clear communication to help public understanding of important social issues. (I.e. Pictographs to present complex data)

Neurath’s charts were completely functional and had shown decorative qualities. Neurath had a connection with the new typography movement. Tshichold helped him and his collaborators; the new Renner’s new Futura typeface was approved for the Isotype design immediately after it became available.

Gerd Arntz constructivist inspired prints had included archetypal geometric figures,  Ants used to cut the pictographs on linoleum blocks, after which they printed on a letterpress and then pasted and finished the artwork.

An important figure in Neurath’s many assistants was Rudolf Modley who went to America during the 1930s and created Pictorial Statistics, Inc. This company became a Pictographic corporation. Modley believed a symbol should follow the principles of good design, to be effective in any sizes, have different and particular characteristics to differentiate from other symbols or images.

Post-World War II graphic design also involves the research towards the development of World Wide visual-language, the expanded and broad use of pictographs in signage and in information.  

Reference:

Meggs P. B. and Purvis A. W. 1998. 5th Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons , Inc

Anon, The Isotype movement [online] available at: :http://www.csun.edu/~pjd77408/DrD/Art461/LecturesAll/Lectures/lecture08/Isotype.htm

Accessed [26^th of November 2013]

Austin Kleon, Otto Neurath, Gerd Arntz and the Isotype movement [online], available at: http://tumblr.austinkleon.com/post/26244830  Accessed [26^th November 2013]