Addresses Quote by Michael Bierut
“For instance, I assume those "carrots" we have on our keyboards were there originally to express "greater than" and "less than." Then they were adopted by coders, and now they show up all the time in the way email addresses are constructed. At least I think that's what happened.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Design Matters Podcast, 2015
Symbols can shift meanings across contexts, from math to email, showing how visual cues evolve with technology.
In simple terms: Symbols change meaning over time.
Key Takeaway
Observe how symbols adapt in your field.
Themes
design
communication
technology
semantics
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
observational
informative
When to use this quote
- branding
- user interface design
- email formatting
- programming
- educational material
Key Concepts
semiotics
symbolic evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure symbols are clear for your audience?
- What symbols could be repurposed in your work?
A Different Perspective
Symbols may be misinterpreted without clear context.
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
