Exercise developed by Lindsey Baker-Upshur 2007

East Meet West Symbols Exercise

Introduction to the exercise: Man has used symbols throughout history to convey messages about his emotions, to alert his tribesman of food, shelter or danger, and for identification and ownership. In this exercise, we seek we will inspiration from both the East (Japanese character design) and the West (the symbolism of the Tarot) to complete this exercise. Kanji is the core of the Japanese writing system. Elements of Japanese culture are embedded in these kanji characters through their forms and images. Kanji has become a popular choice for tattoo enthusiasts; many people get tattoos based on Kanji. In Kanji an idea such as the fashion of a front crossing dress (kimono) or the idea of a pregnant woman (baby in house) is simplified down to one symbol.

Another example (below) are the drawings (two images left) used to inspire the logo (image right) for www.tattoosymbol.com You can research their meaning and learn more about tattoo symbolism and about the ancient tarot divination methods at that site.

Exercise developed by Lindsey Baker-Upshur 2007

Since Tarot cards are loaded with symbolism, we will use the cards as a starting point. Select a card, study the meaning, write down a list of the key words that you fell conveys the meaning of the cards. Begin to abstract it using the process that the Japanese developed to create the kanji symbols system. Select from one of the following Tarot cards. I have highlighted what I thought were the key words in the first one (the Magician) as an example of how to proceed:

A young man in the robe of a magician with the confidence of the god Apollo. The figure 8 over his head is the sign of infinity, the mystery of life. The serpent around his waist is eating his own tail another symbol of infinity. His right hand is raised to heaven, left hand points to earth. This dual sign shows the descent of grace, virtue and light, drawn from things above and delivered to things below. The suggestion throughout is therefore the possession and communication of higher powers and the gifts of the spirit. On the table before are the four Tarot suits, Wands, Cups, Sword and Pentacles, which also stand for the four elements of nature, which he adapts to his purposes. The magician uses all the elements of nature to transform the mundane into the divine.

A great, radiant star of eight rays, surrounded by seven lesser stars -- all of eight rays shine above the image of a female figure in the foreground, which is naked. Her left knee is on the land and her right foot upon the water. She pours the water of life from two great vases, irrigating sea and land. Behind her is rising ground and on the right a shrub or tree, where a bird alights. The figure expresses eternal youth and beauty.

Exercise developed by Lindsey Baker-Upshur 2007

The moon has sixteen chief and sixteen secondary rays. The card represents the life of the imagination, which exists apart from the life of the spirit. The path between the towers is the way into the unknown. The dog and wolf are the fears that surface in the mind, when in the presence of the unknown, with only a reflected light to guide one. The intellectual light is only a reflection and beyond it is the unknown mystery, which it cannot show. It illuminates our animal nature, represented by the scorpion below the dog and the wolf, which comes up out of the deeps. This nameless and hideous tendency is even lower than the savage beasts. It strives to attain manifestation, symbolized by crawling from the abyss of water to the land, but as a rule it sinks back where it came from. The face in the moon directs a calm gaze upon the unrest below; the dew of thoughts fall; the message is: Peace, be still; and there shall come a calm upon the animal nature, while the abyss beneath shall cease from arising.

Typhon is a trickster god who tried to replace Zeus. He is shown here in his serpent form. The four living creatures described by Ezekiel, in the bible -- (bravery) one possessing the face of a lion, (highly consciousness) the face of a man/angel, (sovereignty) the face of an eagle and (sacrifice) the face of calf occupy the corners of the card. The wheel itself occupies the center. It stands for the perpetual motion of the universe and the flux of human life. The sphinx stands for equilibrium and symbols are inscribed on the wheel, along with the letters of the divine name. Behind the general notion expressed in the symbol is the concept of chance and fate. The Wheel of Fortune card symbolizes destiny, fortune, success, elevation, luck, and happiness.

Step One: Select a Tarot card and make a list of the keywords that you think convey the meaning of the card. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________

Exercise developed by Lindsey Baker-Upshur 2007

6. 7.

_______________________ _______________________

Step Two: Create a series of quick little sketches; each image should represent one of the key words. Step Three: Start to combine the images into one cohesive symbol that represents the overall concept of the card. Step Four: Create at least completely unique 5 thumbnail symbols. You are representing the meaning of the card while creating aesthetically pleasing symbol. Step Five: Select your strongest symbol and execute it in Adobe Illustrator. The final symbol must be in black and white. The size is approximately 3.5. Please do not use color, photos or filter effects. You are designing with shape, line and fills only. Step Six: Turn in the five (5) thumbnails and (1) final logo design. Save the final logo design in Adobe PDF format. Print out a black and white copy and turn it in with the thumbnails. Thumbnails are worth 50% and final logo is worth 50% of the grade. Be sure to include your name and the name of the Tarot card that you are depicting on both documents that you are turning in. You may place a piece of paper over the grid paper provided to create the thumbnails (optional) or just use plain typing paper. You will be turning these in, so please dont create them in your notebook unless you are willing to make photocopies of your work. Here is an example of the exercise:
Key words used: Earth and water Eternal youth Beauty, Celebrity Nourishment for all

Final solution:

Objective: Reduce a complex message into a simplified, abstract symbol while retaining the original meaning of the card. We do this exercise to practice converting complex ideas into non-verbal symbols this will increase your logo-making skills. This strategy is very useful when trying to come up with logos intended to communicate something about what a company offers or what is does.