I am developing a policy document for how and when to use the types of
graphic symbols and statements that our company places on our
products.
We design professional entertainment equipment and we have to put on
standard things like Warning and Caution statements, trademark
statements, patent statements, power ratings, FCC emission statements,
UL badge icon, handling statements, input and output connector and
switch nomenclature, logos and company information, etc. Some of
these, like the Warning statement are done in the silk-screen that is
done to the rear surface of the product. Other things, like a UL
badge, are applied as pre-made stickers that are stuck on the back
because we can't state the item is UL until it has been UL approved
and that usually takes longer than the first design phase so it
shouldn't go on the silk-screen.
My question is about industry standard terminology. In the document
that I am writing I would call all things that get silk-screened on to
the products "Markings" and all things that are applied as stickers
"Labels". Some people suggest that silk-screened items be called
"Legends". Is "Legends" more technically correct? Googling around I
have found both Markings and Legends used but I seem to see more
things called XXXX Marks than called XXXX Legends.
Also does anybody have any idea what to use for the sum of the two
categories? "Graphics" or "Graphic Elements" doesn't seem correct to
me because to the designers that use the document, graphics is a very
general term that might include the outline shape, the shading and
fills, etc. of the product that they are designing on screen.
Currently throughout the document I am calling out both "Markings and
Labels" (or possibly Legends and Labels) when I mean both and it would
be nice to use one word that covers both.
Any ideas from some of you guys that have some experience with product
design?
