Darts

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Dart-throwing

Category

Sports, Shooting Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the possibility of playing/throwing darts

	Source	Description
	Smashicons	Side view of dart, placed diagonally
	BTA 1989	Side view of three darts in a row
	ÖNORM A 3011	Dartboard, dart below
	BS 8501:2002	Dartboard, dart rotated by 10° below
	Minh Do	Target with dart in center
	Aicher OAP	Upper part of human figure throwing dart, dartboard in the background
	CNIS	View of human figure throwing dart, dartboard on the right

Discussion

Several concepts can be found when searching for a pictogram to indicate the possibility of playing/throwing darts: from side views of one or more darts, sometimes shown with a dartboard, to pictograms displaying a human figure throwing darts and a dartboard in the background. Renderings showing a target with a dart in it's center, as in the example by Minh Do above, probably easily can get misunderstood to signify Archery.

Of the few pictogram variants we have in our collection, only one was examined on basis of tests:

Pictogram No 9016 of British Standard 8501:2002 was judged as highly comprehensible, reaching a median score of 97 in a Comprehensibility Estimation Test conducted in Austria (Brugger, 1999).

The pictograms available from Otl Aicher (Aicher OAP) and from the Chinese standard GB/T 10001 (CNIS) are of limited use only when reproduced in small scale.

Recommendations

Darts

Based on the test results known and regarding design aspects we recommend the use of pictogram No 170 from ÖNORM A 3011, part 11.

Tests of pictograms of referent Darts

Brugger: Ch. (1999): Verständnisschätzungen - Projekt 1999. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute dated December 1999.