Choose the Right Symbols: Make Visuals Clear and Effective

Published {$created} by Carsten Blum

At the heart of every visual schedule or support tool lies one simple idea: The symbol must communicate the meaning instantly.

If a child, teen, or adult misinterprets a symbol, the entire routine breaks down. That’s why choosing the right type of visual, photo, drawing, or icon, is one of the most important parts of building effective visual support.

Clear symbols reduce confusion, increase independence, and create predictable, calm routines across home, school, therapy, and institutional settings.

Types of Symbols: What to Use and When

Not all visuals work equally well for all users. Here are the most common categories, and when to choose each.

🖼️ Photographs

Real-life images of objects, places, or actions.

Best for:

• Young children

• Individuals with limited abstract thinking

• People who rely heavily on concrete visual cues

• Transitional phases (e.g., moving from PECS to illustrated icons)

Pros: Highly recognizable, minimal interpretation neededCons: Less flexible, harder to standardize, busy backgrounds can be distracting

🎨 Simple drawings or sketches

Cartoon-like representations of actions, objects, or routines.

Best for:

• Users who can generalize concepts

• Routines that require a softer or child-friendly look

• Activities where a photograph is too literal or distracting

Pros: Clear, friendly, customizableCons: If style is inconsistent, recognition becomes harder

🔲 Clean digital icons (pictograms)

Minimalistic symbols often used in AAC, schools, or digital planners.

Best for:

• Older children, teens, and adults

• Situations requiring consistency across teams or environments

• Digital systems where scalable clarity matters

• Institutions that want universal design

Pros: Easy to standardize, works across cultures, simple to processCons: Too abstract for some users

How to Choose the Right Symbol for Each User

1. Consider cognitive level

Can the user interpret abstraction, or do they need concrete visuals?

2. Look at age and environment

A teenager may respond better to clean, modern icons than cartoon drawings.

3. Match the symbol to the routine

Medical procedures often need more realistic images; chores may not.

4. Prioritize clarity over aesthetics

The symbol doesn’t have to be “pretty”, it has to be understood.

5. Test and observe

If the user consistently misinterprets a symbol, swap it out.

Tips for Making Symbols Easier to Understand

• Use consistent styles across a whole schedule

• Avoid visual clutter, plain backgrounds, minimal details

• Stick to one concept per symbol

• Use clear, high-contrast shapes and colors

• Keep the meaning obvious, no guessing, no metaphors

• Label symbols (optional) for older children or adults

Small clarity improvements can dramatically increase usability.

Example: Choosing a Symbol for “Lunchtime”

There is no universally “correct” symbol, only the one the user understands best.

When to Change or Update Symbols

Symbol sets may need to evolve as the user grows. Consider updating when:

• The user becomes frustrated or confused

• They move to school, therapy, or a new environment

• They gain abstract understanding

• You shift from paper to digital systems

• New routines require greater clarity or consistency

Visual support is not static, it grows with the user.

Summary

Choosing the right symbols is one of the foundational steps in creating effective visual support.By matching the visual type to the user’s cognitive level, environment, and needs, you ensure that schedules and routines become clearer, calmer, and easier to follow.

Next step: In the next guide, we’ll explore how to design visual schedules that actually work, including layout, sequencing, and clarity tips.