We are or designers are categorising the signs / language we use to communicate ideas with each other into three types: icon, index and symbol. Each of the three do have different degrees of iconicity. And especially icons (see examples below)
Iconicity is a relationship of resemblance or similarity between the two aspects of a sign: its form and its meaning. An iconic sign is one whose form resembles its meaning in some way. The opposite of iconicity is arbitrariness.
Or in other words the difference between each broad category of signs is the quality of the physical relationship between the signifier and signified.
Icons, Index and Symbols
Icons have obvious physical connections between the signifier and their meanings. For instance, the people and places in a photograph will probably look like their real life counterparts.
Indexes have some factual relationship between the signifier and signified. For example smoke is an index of fire. Dark clouds are an index of rain. Or footprints might an index of a foot or feet or an path or even a good day at the beach. But at the last example with the footprint you see you / we need the context whether it should stand for the one or other meaning.
Symbols are strongly depending on context and by culture and do not need to resemble their mental concepts. There is no reason why pink, for example, is used to signify femininity - or black as a color for grieving. It is simply tradition and convention.
Important - as always in life - it is good to know that this not a Black-or-White thing or thinking - please understand or see that a single sign could easily have the characteristics of all three types / categories.
Semiotics
I will not get to academic - but I like to mention the Semiotics
Semiotics is the study of signs and significations, and as graphic designers we create visual signs that are meant to cause a certain effect by watching, by 'decoding', by understanding ... in the mind.
Semiology proposes a deeper analysis questioning how images make meaning.
Another approach to semiological theory is to extend Saussure’s linguistic theory and think of signs contextually, as meaning structures positioned carefully to have semiological effect. (Smith & Moriarty) This approach contrasts syntagmatic signs, signs that gather their meaning from their position in a sequence, with paradigmatic signs that gather their meaning from what they are not. (Rose, 2001)
And another Article about Icon Design - And why I don't care if you like the icon - And because I want to know if you understand it :-)
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