Spa

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Destination Spa, Mineral Spa, Healing Spring, Mineral Spring, Hot Spring, Hot Spring Bath, Thermal Baths, Balneotherapy

Category

Health Care, Public Facilities, Tourism, Recreation, Concessions

Message / Function

To show availability or the location of a spa

	Source	Description
	Tern	Waterspout fountain, basin on wide base, four solid lines as jets of water
	Slovenia 2015	Waterspout fountain, basin on wide base, four lines and two dots as jets of water
	Unknown	Basin with jets of water shown as three solid lines ending as four
	BS 8501:2002	Waterspout fountain, basin on narrow base
	SWISSTRAFFIC	Waterspout fountain, basin on narrow base
	Castilla y León	Waterspout fountain with shallow basin, jets of water shown as lines and dots
	Galicia	Waterspout fountain with shallow basin, jets of water shown as dots
	DER	Waterspout fountain with shallow basin
4)	Dreyfuss	Waterspout fountain with shallow basin
3)	Falkner	Waterspout fountain with shallow basin
	Unknown	Waterspout fountain with shallow basin
	ADAC F	Waterspout fountain above water shown as wavy line
	DIN 30600	Waterspout fountain
	DIN 30600	Waterspout fountain, inverted “V” shape above
6)	DIN X	Waterspout fountain with Aesculapian snake, inverted “V” shape above
*)	ON Testdesign	Waterspout fountain with Aesculapian snake, both emerging from shallow basin
1)	ÖNORM A 3011	Waterspout fountain with Aesculapian snake, both emerging from shallow basin
2)	Ehrenfels	Waterspout fountain above shallow basin with Aesculapian snake
	Unknown	Aesculapian snake above water shown as three wavy lines
5)	Baden-Baden	Aesculapian snake above water shown as two wavy lines, outline cross in the middle
	Kapitzki	Water shown as three wavy lines, outline cross in top right corner
	CNIS	Three vertical s-shaped lines above the central area of an arc
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Three vertical s-shaped lines above the central area of a circle
	ISO 7001	Three vertical s-shaped lines above three half human figures inside a circle
	EJP	Three vertical s-shaped lines above three half human figures
	Bolivia	Front view of human figure in water surrounded by pattern of dots, water shown as three wavy lines
	Baden-Baden	Front view of human figure in water surrounded by pattern of dots, water shown as three wavy lines
	Peru 2016	Side view of human figure sitting on stairs, surrounded by pattern of dots
	Ecuador	Side view of human figure sitting on stairs, two horizontal and three vertical wavy lines behind
	Jalisco	Lifebuoy above water shown as two wavy lines
	PSO	Side view of human figure in bathtub, aureole
	Aicher & Krampen	Side view of part of bathtub with faucet, outline cross in top right corner
	ÖVW	Bushel of water
	Unknown	Side view of pitcher
	Unknown	Side view of pitcher
	Unknown	Side view of tilted pitcher, two vertical lines indicating water flowing out
	Unknown	Silhouette of building with water drop made of wavy lines superimposed
	Anvi	Lotus blossom
	Québec	Human figure massaging human figure in prone position

Discussion

The examples shown above are only a small selection from the wide range of pictograms and symbols for the referent Spa and the related terms Healing Spring, Mineral Spring, Hot Spring that can be found in publications and guiding systems worldwide. There are several general concepts and a multitude of visualizations. It seems there is no real single stereotype to express this message. In such a case often no satisfying solution with good comprehensibility can be determined.

Several studies present research covering some of the concepts found in pictogram variants in use:

An iterative design and development process was started in Austria with an Appropriateness Ranking Test regarding seven pictograms variants (Brugger, 1977 a) and a follow up Comprehension Test of the best three ranked variants (Brugger, 1977 b), where the DIN symbol marked 6) performed best with 42 % correct responses and a strong association with healing in the remaining responses. Based on the findings of these tests more pictograms from different sources were selected and new variants were designed.

On these grounds another Appropriateness Ranking Test was conducted to find the best among 16 variants (Brugger, 1979 a). The six pictograms judged as most appropriate are shown in the table above, labelled 1) to 6) following the ranking order based on the test results.

Responses from two follow-up Comprehension Tests available for the variants marked 1) to 3) (Brugger, 1979 b) and 1) plus *) (Brugger, 1979 c) and the Appropriateness Ranking Tests mentioned before show some clear tendencies:

Pictograms showing a waterspout fountain with a shallow basin were preferred to other concepts
Adding a symbol to indicate the aspect of healing like the Aesculapian snake improves comprehensibility
Adding an inverted “V” shape above to indicate a building seems to have no positive effect
More abstract symbols like the side view of a pitcher or the ÖVW variant showing a bushel of water are judged as inappropriate

In a later comparison of three pictograms showing waterspout fountains on basis of a Comprehensibility Estimation Test administered in the Iberian Peninsula, the symbol originating from Galicia, with water shown as dots, reached a low median comprehensability score of 30 only, while the other two variants, where the water was displayed using lines or dashed lines, were judged far better with a score of 70 (Neves, 2012).

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be well comprehensible concerning the message Hot Spring (Onsen) with an excellent comprehension score of 95.3 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). This result reflects the fact that this symbol displaying three vertical s-shaped lines above the central area of a circle is quite common in Japan, as it is used even on products, souvenirs, and logos related to Hot Springs. But it also has to be questioned if this symbol is understood as well in other regions: the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) initiated a change, as the symbol could be misinterpreted by foreigners as the mark of a restaurant that serves hot food (japantoday.com).

Note: Some of the concepts shown in the table above like the lotus blossom were not covered by the studies mentioned.

Recommendations

Spa

Based on test results available we recommend the use of symbol No 85 of ÖNORM A 3011 Part 4 to signify Spa or Healing Spring.

Further studies conducted in locations that offer this specific kind of infrastructure and based on a wider range of pictogram variants are recommended to clarify this subject and support or correct this recommendation. Such research should also regard different cultures.

Tests of pictograms of referent Spa

Brugger, Ch. (1977 a): Abschlußbericht über den Reihungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1977-07-27.

Brugger, Ch. (1977 b): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1977-10-04.

Brugger, Ch. (1979 a): Abschlußbericht über den Reihungstest für die Referents Theater, Kurmittelhaus, Sauna und Fahrradverleih. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1979-08-13.

Brugger, Ch. (1979 b): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated 09/79, Vienna.

Brugger, Ch. (1979 c): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated 12/79, Vienna.

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.

Neves, J. (2012): Sistema de signos para informação turística: Metodologia para o desenvolvimento de sistemas sinaléticos. Tese de Doutorado - Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Arquitetura.