Keep Your Distance, Wear a Mask and Stay Safe: The Visual Language of Covid-19 Print-Based Signage. (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdulla, Danah
• Is Part Of: Visual resources. Volume 36:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Covid-19 -- Visual Communication -- Communication Design -- Health Communication -- Visual Language; Art -- Documentation -- Periodicals; Art -- Audio-visual aids -- Periodicals; 025.177
• DOI: 10.1080/01973762.2021.1957646
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-3762

Abstract

Abstract : A pandemic introduces multiple factors that must be communicated to the public. The coronavirus outbreak has demonstrated the necessity of effective risk communication during a global pandemic and the importance of communication design within this process. Since March 2020, official and ad-hoc signage reminding the public to keep their distance, wear a mask, stay safe and stay at home have become ubiquitous in cities all over the world. This paper analyses the visual language of COVID-related signage – those made by designers and those made without – in London, UK from April 2020 to January 2021. A mixture of compositional interpretation and semiology was performed on 130 photographs of print-based signage to categorise them under themes. Results were categorised these under four broad themes: Thank you, Togetherness, Care; Safety and Security; Heroes and Protection; and Fear, Danger, Caution. The findings invite readers to reflect on the effectiveness of the visual communication strategy and ask who these designs are for.