semiotics – Preindustrial Craftsmanship

In an effort to make my mark, I’m working on a splash page image, a logo, and a flag. Something catchy and symbolic, but not already taken. Simple, smart, and understandable. This one about sums it up but I think it may already be in use. compasssquarelevel My personal image for the web page needs to be something as iconic as this pre-war “selfie” by J. Harris Stone. A travelling man like myself.

Also, in the spirit of the early caravanners of a century ago, I am attempting to create a logo, without restricted use, for kindred spirits to fly from their rigs when on the road. This idea struck me several years ago when seeing one of the simple logos from the Society of Primitive Technology on a car in the parking lot of a bookstore far from home.

I knew, when I saw it, there was likely a kindred spirit nearby. Probably someone I know or have very few degrees of separations from. In other words, a person I could probably trust in a pinch.This was reinforced on me this year while I was driving a thousand miles from home, someone recognized my rig and had his young son hold up an image he knew I would recognize. How cool is that? Icons work to let us know, in this overpopulated yet disjointed world community, who belongs to our tribe. Just as gang members have signs, symbols, and colors, so do law enforcement, military, and fraternal organizations. I’m not saying this is necessarily good, just that it is.

We are tribal at heart for good or ill. I want to put it to work for good.

This photo dates back to a time prior to the completion of my caravan but far enough along to travel across the country. Maybe not iconic, but a document in the life-history of my home.

As there are more and more of us in our circle of fellow travellers, sometimes we are readily recognized.

Sometimes we are not. Maybe we need a flag of our own to fly when we’re lost on the road and maybe not so recognizable. Something like the pennon of the Caravan Club in Europe before the Great War.