Customs

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Baggage Check, Security Check

Category

Processing Activities, Transport Facilities, Travel

Message / Function

To indicate the location of customs or baggage checking point

	Source	Description
	Düsseldorf Airport	Person in uniform with arm pointing towards open suitcase, circle above with horizontal bar with round ends inside
	UIC 413	Person in uniform in side view, with arm pointing towards open suitcase
	PANYNJ	Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	U.S. National Park Service	Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	CNIS	Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	Bolivia	Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	AIGA	Person in uniform wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	EMF Pred	Human figure wearing tie and peaked cap, with arm in open suitcase
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	EJP	Human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	ISO 7001	Human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of human figure wearing peaked cap with arm in open suitcase
	Dreyfuss	Clipped side view of human figure wearing peaked cap, looking into open suitcase with contents
	O'72	Side view of human figure wearing peaked cap with arm at open suitcase
	O'72	Side view of human figure wearing peaked cap, round sign ZOLL - DOUANE
	Dreyfuss	Side view of cuff with hand holding stamp
	UIC	Side view of suitcase with label and round sign ZOLL - DOUANE
	Picto'grafics	Eye above side view of suitcase
	Dreyfuss	Eye above side view of suitcase
	UN 1968	Red circle, horizontal bar with round ends and text CUSTOMS in two languages inside
	SVI	Red circle, horizontal bar with round ends and text CUSTOMS in two languages inside
	CNFC	Red circle, horizontal bar with round ends, text CONTROL ADUANA (CONTROL CUSTOMS) below
	BAA	Circle, horizontal bar with round ends inside
	SADC	Two crossed flagpoles with black flags

Discussion

After the publishing of the AIGA/DOT Symbol Signs Study almost all designers followed the AIGA example, which was derived from the Baggage Check pictogram developed by Otl Aicher for the Summer Olympics in Munich 1972. So there is not much variation concerning the verbal description of the image content for the messages Customs and Baggage Check since then. The collection above illustrates this well.

Even though data available is rather limited, results from a Comprehension Test confirm this practice as appropriate: In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be well understood with a comprehension score of 81.7 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001).

Tests of pictograms of referent Customs

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.