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Swimming / Swimming Pool

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Bathing

Category

Sports, Water Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location for public swimming or bathing

 

Source Description
Abdullah & Hübner page 83, Summer Olympics Atlanta 1996: Pictogram Swimming O'96 Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two waves
Summer Olympics London 2012: Pictogram Swimming O'12 Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as jagged line
Erco Pictogram No 661: Swimming Erco Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as five wavy lines
ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 38: Swimming ÖNORM A 3011 Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as three wavy lines
Hora page 163: CNIS Pictogram Swimming CNIS Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines
Pictogram GDLS A3-5 Swimming Pool from South Africa SADC Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as wavy line
Icon No 109549: Swimming by Dutchicon (Iconfinder) Dutchicon Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as wavy line
Abdullah & Hübner page 74, Summer Olympics Moscow 1980: Pictogram Swimming O'80 Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two waves
Hora page 331, United Kingdom Forestry Commission: Map Symbol Swimming UKFC Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as wavy line
Pictogram No IS,31 Swimming Permitted (Australia, National Aquatic and Recreational Signage Style Manual) NARSSM Swimmer using front crawl technique, water indicated as a wavy contour and line
Modley & Myers page 88, NPS: Pictogram Swimming NPS Swimmer using front crawl technique, water indicated as a wavy contour and line
Tern Symbol TS0642: Swimming facility Tern Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines
BS 8501 Public Information Symbol No 9060: Swimming BS 8501:2002 Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines
Hora page 85: NPS Map Symbol Swimming NPS (Hora) Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy contour
Hora page 93: Parks Canada Pictogram Swimming PC Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy line
NPS Map Symbol Recreation (Water): Swimming U.S. National
Park Service
Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy line
Aicher & Krampen page 135: Pictogram Swimming Aicher &
Krampen
Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines
Eco-Mo Foundation Pictogram D06: Swimming Eco-Mo
Foundation
Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy contour
NZS 8603 Symbol No 29: Swimming NZS 8603 Human figure swimming, water shown as two wavy lines
Ota, page 188, Sign: Swimming Ota Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy line
Modley & Myers page 92, Summer Olympics Mexico 1968: Pictogram Swimming O'68 Water shown as a wavy lines, arm with hand above
Modley & Myers page 113, Swedish Standard Recreation Symbols (SSRS): Pictogram Bathing * SSRS Head and shoulders of human figure above water shown as two wavy lines
Pictogram No 7 Swimming Pool (Piscina) from Portugal GSR Portugal Human figur starting diving into water shown as three wavy lines
French Traffic Sign ID20c: Swimming Pool (Piscine ou centre aquatique) France IISR Human figur starting diving into water shown as two wavy lines
Pictogram No 61 Swimming Pool (Piscina) from Aragón Aragón Human figur diving into water shown as two wavy lines
Pictogram: Swimming Pool from an unknown source * Unknown Human figur diving into water shown as a wavy line
Symbol: Swimming Pool from an unknown source * Unknown Water shown as four wavy lines

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

Discussion

As the collection above illustrates, the dominating variants for indicating a location for public swimming or bathing are made up of a human figure swimming (front crawl technique) and water shown as a wavy lines. The position of the arm as shown in the U.S. National Park Service variant and the symbol labeled as NPS Mapping (Hora page 85) seems problematic, as it could be confused with a drowning person as depicted in the OCHA Humanitarian Icons set. For Swimming Pool several organizations use the image of a human figur diving into water.

Test results found in our database cover several image contents in use:

When Gehringer (1976) examined six variants for Swimming Pool and Bathing in an Appropriateness Ranking Test, the pictogram from Erco shown in the table above was ranked best, followed by the old NPS symbol. The variants at the bottom of this table marked with a *, showing a human figur diving into water or even just water shown as several wavy lines, were judged as inappropriate.

Renderings of a human figure swimming with water shown as one or more wavy lines were understood well in all studies available providing Comprehension Test data, with comprehension scores in a range from 84 to 96 (Brugger, 1978, Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001, Fiori, 2008).

Recommendations

ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 38: Swimming

Based on data available and regarding design aspects, we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to Public Information Symbol No 38 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 2 displayed above, but proportions of the arm recovering above the water should be corrected.

Tests of pictograms of referent Swimming, Swimming Pool

Brugger, Ch. (1978): Bericht über die Auswertung des Erkennungstests vom November/Dezember 1977. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1978-03-06.

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.

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.

Gehringer, J. (1976): Reihungstest über 18 Begriffe aus dem Sportwesen - Priorität I. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated January 1976, Vienna.

See also

Diving, Scuba Diving
Bath, Shower, Whirlpool, Jacuzzi
Beach, Lawn, Sunbathing Area
Jet Skiing, Sailing, Surfing, Windsurfing

 

Updated 2024-09-28 by Ch.Brugger