Symbols and stickers for Push & Pull By James Robert Watson, PhD The story Okay, admit it - you've pulled a push door and pushed a pull door. It was a bit awkward, wasn't it? Some doors swing only one way but often, the clues - hinges, handles, and knobs - don't communicate enough and in enough time to respond with a hand out to push or a hand out to grab. I first noticed this phenomenon several decades ago. I have been assigning a symbol design project in Graphic Design I for the last 20 years. That project often addresses the need for a clear symbol to clearly communicate Push or Pull. Students usually develop solutions that fall into one of these categories. Door in a door frame These show the object in question in perspective, sometimes exaggerated. To help clarify, one would often add a handle for pull and a plate for push. Android figure in action These show exaggerated figures in action of pushing and pulling. They are side views, however, and that might hinder the viewer's empathy with the figure. Hand on handle or plate These emphasize the pertinent action - the hand reaching out in front of the viewer performing the appropriate action. Of those three main categories, the doorway seems to provide the clearest and quickest communication of the action. Proposed symbols Above are the two symbols recommended for use. In addition to the word PUSH or PULL, the message is communicated through four visual elements: 1. The shape of the door in perspective 2. The plate or handle on the door 3. The color or figure/ground reversal 4. The words Push and Pull The door is rendered in perspective to quickly show that the door swings away (push) or towards (pull) the viewer. The plate is associated with a cue for the user to push there while the handle is the cue for the user to grasp and pull. The Push door is black since we perceive that dark colors recede and light colors advance towards us. The orientation of the door is the same as the view one has while approaching the door. Applications on different doors For black, white, or glass doors. For bronze or wood doors. Highlighted in symbolic colors. Applications Instead of waiting for others to implement the above solutions, I ordered 1,000 of each of the two symbols from an online sticker printing service. Wherever necessary or appropriate, I covertly remove the backing and place it on the door as I exit or enter. Promotion and marketing In the summer of 2008 I marketed the Push Pull stickers. I ordered sets of all 3 colors of stickers and in August, hired Bill Davis and Jennifer Zink to develop a website - www.pushpullstickers.com Website Design By Bill Davis and Jennifer Zink Photos At Chipotle burrito restaurant in LoMa (Lower Manhattan), the door handles - conveying pull - are identical on each side. To exit, one must push the 'pull' handle, however. After applying the new Push/Pull stickers. Sketches Notes from exploration phase Objectives Minimize humiliation, embarrassment Convey compassion from building/store owner Raise awareness/consciousness Educate the target market Target Market, user Age 26-55 Physically able to open doors Interested in making things better Community-minded Target Market, door owner Age 26-50 Building, store leasee/owner Architects, Interior Designers Interested in making things better Website content Advantages & benefits (frustration) Applications in use, on a variety of doors Specs: actual size sticker with dimensions Order form How to install/apply stickers Dates Noticed the phenomenon: sometime in the 1970s? Assigned it in class: September, 1988 Witnessed man at Chipotle: October 21, 2006, 7:44p Decided to do something about it: October 21, 2006, 7:45p Sketches: October Stickers ordered: November, 2006 Applications: from now on Website uploaded: August 18, 2006 Website removed: May 7, 2011 Door design that also addresses the confusion In & Out Door is an elegant (albeit expensive) solution that indicates whether to push or to pull by directing the user to flatten a plate or pull a handle, the action of which unlatches the door. Link to the website Home • Email Jim Watson • Filename to share: http://www.jamesrobertwatson.com/pushpull.html