2g. Voting on Newly Designed Symbols

Updated by Global Symbols with UNICEF ECARO

voting

This is a very important part of the process as stakeholders may have different views about the look and feel of symbols.

  • Voting can be paper-based at an AAC Forum meeting or online using a system on the Global Symbols website that gathers the scores creates a downloadable spreadsheet of results. Both voting systems require some training and the success of the session can benefit from a short feedback questionnaire.
  • Symbols are voted on in batches of up to 30 at a time, drawn from a draft set uploaded to Global Symbols.
  • AAC users may use suitable online signs in a grid to vote or gestures in face-to-face situations.

Other AAC Forum participants can use levels of acceptance for 4 criteria based on a scale of 1-5. The criteria are:

  1. Feelings about the symbol as a whole (immediate reaction, iconicity, transparency, ease of recognition)
  2. Represents the word or phrase (referent/concept)
  3. Color contrast (outline and colours used for clarity and visually impaired)
  4. Cultural sensitivity (appropriate and relevant)

Where symbols fall below the set acceptance level (e.g. 3.5) symbols can be returned for redesign and resubmitted with the next batch of symbols

Voting training and instructions

symbol voting criteria

See Also