The "Public Pictogram Project," promoted by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), has successfully facilitated the establishment and promulgation of the National Standard CNS 16282: "Graphical Symbols – General Public and Basic Safety Pictograms" through systematic design research and standardization. This marks the creation of Taiwan's first unified public pictogram system that aligns with international standards, effectively enhancing visual identification quality and overall service design standards in public spaces.

 

In response to long-standing issues such as fragmented designs, inconsistent quality, and application difficulties in public venues, TDRI launched the "Public Pictogram Project" in 2023. The project invited central government agencies—including the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the National Land Management Agency (NLMA), and the Resource Circulation Administration (RECA)—to participate in the preliminary needs assessment and co-creation of application scenarios. By integrating the practical experience of these competent authorities in public service fields, a foundation for a neutral, universal public pictogram system that complies with domestic regulations was progressively established. 

 

 

The project first underwent nearly two years of comprehensive planning and design research to complete the system construction and application verification. This was followed by another two-year process of National Standard application and review, ultimately resulting in the formulation of the CNS 16282 standard. The standard covers 253 pictograms across eight major categories: Public Facilities, Transportation Facilities, Travel and Tourism, Sports Activities, Commercial Facilities, Public Behavior and Directions, Basic Safety, and Accessibility, providing a practical and reliable design benchmark for public environments.

 

Currently, the CNS 16282 National Standard is available for search and full-text viewing on the website of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Ministry of Economic Affairs. Simultaneously, TDRI provides open-source files of these standardized pictograms under the CC BY 4.0 license, allowing for free sharing, modification, and commercial use. These are accompanied by the "Public Pictogram Application Manual" and online instructional courses to assist government agencies, design professionals, and related industries in correct implementation and promotion, collectively improving the quality of Taiwan's public environments.

 

CNS 16282 Standard: Please search and view the full text on the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) "CNS Online Service" website.

 

For questions regarding pictogram downloads or applications, please contact: designcanhelp@tdri.org.tw

 

Further Reading: https://www.tdri.org.tw/zh-TW/news/57