The evolution of visualisation tools of Chinese children’s sign systems: Semiotic aspect

Abstract

The relevance of this study lies in examining how child-oriented wayfinding in public spaces shifted from basic safety measures to culturally and emotionally charged mediators amid changing standards, policies, and digital technologies. This study aimed to investigate the evolution of visualisation tools in Chinese children’s sign systems from a semiotic perspective. Drawing on Bronislaw Malinowski’s cultural stratification theory, the research combined diachronic analysis of national and local standards, policy documents, and representative cases from children’s hospitals, kindergartens, theme parks, and cultural venues. A semiotic-stratification approach was applied to interpret changes at three levels: material apparatus, institutional regulation, and spiritual-emotional meanings, highlighting links between visual codes and broader sociocultural transitions. The findings identified three historical phases in the evolution of Chinese children’s sign systems: a Safety-Dominant phase (1983-2008) characterised by standardised pictograms, high-contrast colours, and warning semantics; a CulturalConsciousness phase (2009-2018) that incorporated regional motifs, local food symbols, and intangible heritage elements to reconstruct identity and reduce anxiety; and a Digital-Intelligence Innovation phase (2019-present)that integrated augmented reality, IoT, and interactive interfaces to create multisensory, affective guidance experiences and data-informed spatial management. Taken together, the semiotic-stratification analysis showed that standardised safety grammars, culturally embedded visual identities, and digitally mediated multisensory interfaces accumulated rather than simply replaced one another over time, revealing the co-evolution of design practice with policy agendas and social expectations. The findings offer conceptual implications for child-friendly city initiatives and for future wayfinding design that considers both technological innovation and the continuity of local cultural narratives.