represents, like the Heunert symbol, the client's profession with an ab
straction of a window frame.
Although it would be good to see printers turning more and more to the
design of symbols, a warning must be given against the use of type alone
(i.e. monograms) for this purpose. A symbol is something completely dif
ferent and of higher importance than a monogram. and a faulty symbol is
far worse than none at all. Printers today are often tempted to use a type
monogram in place of some previous ornament. But in advertising, only a
true symbol is suitable; monograms today do not make sense. A monogram
as the symbol of a product is always worse than a proper symbol. And a
bad symbol can be disastrous to a product. For this reason it is better not
to substitute a monogram for a symbol, when there is not enough time to
design a symbol, but to use simply type.
In any case the design of a type symbol gives the printer the opportunity of
a fascinating and welcome job, and the difficulties of making a good sym
bol should only be a stimulus to their overcoming.
PIET ZWART: Personal mark (type-symbol) p
m