Archetypes are primitive symbols. They have the same meaning in all cultures and evoke similar associations. Knowing these associations, archetypes can be put to good use when designing pictograms, logos, and much more (for more information, see section "Logo").
Examples of archetypes:
The spiral:
The spiral symbolizes the mother as a central figure, whereby everything is either moving towards to or away of her. It also reflects the situation of a baby/child in its discovery phase. Another meaning is that there is a beginning and an end.
The circle:
It is the symbol of closeness, wholeness, perfection and completeness. You can find the circle in many cultures as Mandala. For example in Tibet, China, India, but also in the Christian Europe and in Platonism.
The dots:
The dots represent pulse points, something vibrant, dynamic. They signify movement and life, expression of rhythmical flow, heartbeat and breathing.
The cross:
The child realizes that there is a top, a bottom, a left and a right. The cross also reflects its effort to walk upright. In addition, the cross is the basis of an orientation in space. It reflects the structured wholeness and stands for the four directions.
More archetypes