Smoking

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Smoking Area, Smoking Allowed

Category

Regulations, General Information, Public Facilities

Message / Function

To signify where smoking is allowed

	Source	Description
	KFAI	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	UIC 413	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with tip, smoke represented by two wavy vertical lines
	Kapitzki	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette in outline with smoke
	ÖNORM A 3011	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette in outline with smoke
	UIC 413 b	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette in outline with smoke
	BVG	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette in outline with smoke
	Swiss Post	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	UXWing	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	AIGA	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	Peru 2016	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	CNIS	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	NARSSM	Side view of horizontal burning cigarette with smoke
	ISO 7001	Side view of tilted burning cigarette in outline with smoke
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of tilted burning cigarette with smoke
	Picto'grafics	Side view of tilted burning cigarette with smoke
	Smitshuijzen	Side view of burning cigarette tilted upwards, with smoke
	Smitshuijzen	Side view of burning cigarette tilted upwards, with smoke
	O'68	Side view of burning pipe, smoke represented by four wavy vertical lines
	IKA	Top of waterpipe with smoke
	X'70	Hand holding burning cigarette, smoke represented by three wavy lines
	Toshiba	Hand holding burning cigarette, smoke represented by three wavy lines
	Furtaev	Head of person in profile, smoking cigarette

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The collection shown above is only a small selection of the wide variety of graphical symbols used all over the world to signify where smoking is allowed, as almost every pictogram set available includes a variant differing slightly in some detail.

A number of studies examined several aspects regarding this referent:

Using the Production Method Gehringer (1979) explored which mental images or visual stereotypes exist concerning the message Smoking. 80 % of the responses showed a burning cigarette with smoke. Next were variants showing the head of a smoking person (10 %) and followed by a pipe with smoke (7 %). Only 3 % provided other solutions. Responses indicate that there exists a visual stereotype regarding Smoking. This observation corresponds to the selection of pictograms found, which is dominated by images showing a burning cigarette with smoke.

In her dissertation concerning optimization of pictograms, Skone (1977) could not find significant differences in reaction times regarding horizontal and tilted renderings of burning cigarettes.

In a later Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation reached a comprehension score of 93.9, an excellent value (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). And in a study of way-finding symbols for healthcare facilities in the United Arab Emirates the AIGA variant, but in white on black background, reached a similar comprehension score of 94 % correct in a Comprehension Test carried out with a sample consisting mostly of young and well educated respondents (Hashim et al., 2014).

Recommendation

It has to be questioned whether the image used to signify where smoking is allowed must be completely identical to that used for the message 'No Smoking' without the negation applied. If this is not the case, each of the images used could be optimized individually.

Regarding the message 'No Smoking', check studies of Dewar (1976) and Murray et.al. (1998) about design aspects concerning the negation elements, as the specific elements must not obscure the intended message.

Tests of pictograms of referent Smoking

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.

Gehringer, J. (1979): Untersuchung über die zeichnerische Gestaltung von Pictogrammen in Abhängigkeit von einigen Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen, sowie Überprüfung einiger Bildzeichen auf ihre Erkennbarkeit. Dissertation, Psychology Department, University of Vienna.

Hashim, M. J., Alkaabi, M. S., & Bharwani, S. (2014): Interpretation of way-finding healthcare symbols by a multicultural population: navigation signage design for global health. Applied ergonomics, 45(3), 503–509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.07.002

Skone, K. (1977): Erkennbarkeit von Symbolvarianten. Dissertation, Psychology Department, University of Vienna.