Give Me a Sign

Housed in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, “Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols” was an exhibition that delves into the profound impact of the 1972 Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols by Henry Dreyfuss, an industrial designer. The Sourcebook compiles a universally-recognized collection of symbols by means of crowdsourcing.

In response to the nature of Cooper Hewitt’s historic Carnegie Mansion, as well as a nod to the gridded structure of the Symbol Sourcebook, a freestanding modular framework was employed for organizing content as well as providing a welcome contrast against the ornate walls.

While learning the history of the Symbol Sourcebook, visitors are encouraged to consider where symbols are encountered in everyday life, view the different forms symbol sets can take, learn what goes into the making of a recognizable symbol and produce their own intended for a contemporary Symbol Sourcebook of 2024.