AIGA/DOT Symbol Signs: Information
The pattern
This still is filed under Mark as compressed claim.
Define
The mark itself is the sentence: a monogram, a seal, a device that already means the claim.
Mechanism
Compression. Years of use, or a very sharp first use, load the device so it can appear without copy.
Verdict
The mark is already loaded, or we will spend to load it
Why it works
The question mark is the ultimate symbol of inquiry. Enclosing it in a circle transforms it from punctuation into a destination or a service point.
Steal this when
You need to designate a point of assistance, using punctuation as a spatial marker. *Collection note: One of the 50 passenger and pedestrian symbols AIGA developed for the US DOT and released copyright-free; still the base layer of every airport wayfinding system* ---