Isotype Movement Logo History

The important movement towards developing a ''world language without words'' began in the 1920s, continued into the 1940s, and still has important influences today. The Isotype concept involves the use of elementary pictographs to convey information. The originator of this effort was Vienna sociologist Otto Neurath. As a child, Neurath marveled at the way ideas and factual information could be conveyed by visual means. Neurath felt that the social and economic changes following World War l demanded clear communication to assist public understanding of important social issues relating to housing, health, and economics. A system of elementary pictographs to present complex data, particularly statistical data, was developed. Initially, the pictographs were individually drawn or cut from paper. After woodcut artist Gerd Arntz joined the group in 1928, he designed most of the pictographs.