Semiotics in Design Education. Semiotics by Design

Abstract

Design is one of the most productive field where Semiotics plays an important role in University programs. Especially in the last twenty years, Semiotics has been inserted in design university programs and semiotic methods and tools have been implemented. The role of semiotics as a crossing discipline emerges and is gains value in design projects. Semiotics is not only considered a discipline specialised in the study of signification processes, but also in the production of meaning through artefacts. In this field the semioticians work in design projects to understand and construct objects, communication and services able to satisfy the users’ needs and practices. First of all, semiotic methods and tools help to analyse the users’ practices, to define objectives and purposes of a project; then they help designers to transform these goals into real projects, preserving the values, the implications and the meanings in a way suitable for the stakeholders.