Back in 1967, the United Nations set out to create a set of universal wayfinding symbols. Looking at the results fifty-one years later, we can go ahead and just call it a humorous study in the human form as an icon. I snorgled at some of the restroom symbol submissions (category: toilet).
It’s no wonder the AIGA was commissioned to design the current universally adopted set of symbols back in 1974. Best of all, the ubiquitous symbol was dubbed “Helvetica Man” by Ellen Lupton and J. Abbot Miller.
Need to find a restroom quickly? Thank Helvetica.
