Ruihan Wang,2024Fall/IXDSN-3600-1,2024/9/5

One of the most popular communication apps, WhatsApp, has many modern iconographies. In comparison of the ancient writing system, they are also forms of visual shorthand. The ancient scripts especially the cuneiform from Sumerian, required learning complex associations and meanings tied to culture and language, maybe even the requirement of well-education (as writing is not a common skill in ancient society). 

The following pictures show the symbol of WhatsApp and the most popular ones that it uses(and you can find them in other places in normal life)

And take the look of how the ancient Egyptians and ancient Sumerians language:

If we let a person draw the icon of WhatsApp and the one of the pattern of these two ancient language–the fist one should take less time, and that is because the modern design especially the iconographies are tend to be accessible to a global audience, which means to be as clear and simple as possible to be recognized.

Take a look of this example from 1-1 comparison between the “profile” icon from WhatsApp and the pattern stands for “people” from ancient Egyptian.

and this is the icon stands for “you”, or “me”, or “human”

And here’s the language the ancient Egypts used for people:

Modern app icons like the example from WhatsApp are designed for intuitive, universal understanding. The metaphors in WhatsApp are simple and derived from everyday objects, making them accessible to a global audience. In contrast, ancient scripts like hieroglyphics or cuneiform were deeply tied to the cultural and religious contexts of their time, requiring a deeper level of learning and understanding.