Widgit Symbols Menu

2024 Widgit Schema Update

Why are we making changes?

The Widgit Symbol Schema underpins the Widgit Symbol Set. The Schema represents rules for designing symbols and enables language development for our users. The original schema was created in 2000 so we are reviewing and updating the schema to make sure it represents a modern world.

We are making changes to the Widgit Symbol schema for family and male characters.

old to new TV symmbol

A summary of the changes

Why change the family schema?

The Widgit Symbols for family relationships are some of the oldest symbols in the set and have not been reviewed as a whole for many years. The family relationship symbols are part of our core vocabulary, and we want to make sure that they stay relevant and appropriate for all of our users.

We have also created new symbols for family relationships and gender variations that had not been represented in the symbol set previously.

At the same time as making schema changes, we have made sure that all of our family symbols have been tidied, removing inconsistencies that had formed over the many years since the first symbols were drawn.

Legacy symbols

pdf Family Schema Update
A full description of the changes

Why change the male symbols?

In the Widgit Symbols, most people are depicted by a stick person who is intended to be gender-neutral. Some symbols need to show gender. To indicate gender, women had long hair and a skirt, and men had trousers. We found that this caused confusion and often gender-neutral symbols were considered as male. Because of this, it was decided to add hair to all male symbols, so essentially if a stick person has hair, it has a gender, and if it does not then it is gender neutral. 

Legacy symbols

pdf Male Schema Update
A full description of the changes

Development

To ensure that the development and changes met everybody’s needs, we consulted within our symbol community, overseas partners and close colleagues and have incorporated their feedback into any changes we have made to our symbols.

We consulted on:

  • how to discern male characters from gender neutral characters
  • whether the default family schema item should be gender neutral
  • new schema to depict adopt and foster
  • adding a contextual relative to better explain a concept
  • adding a generation marker to show relationships between siblings
  • Revising how the blue circle denotes different family relationships.

Blue Circles

Accessing the new symbols

Online Software

When the redeveloped symbols are released in Widgit Online, every users' documents will automatically update and change to the new graphics. We realise that this could be disconcerting for some users, but we are doing this because we believe that the changes will benefit everyone.  

Desktop Software

With InPrint 3 (version 3.8) and SymWriter 2 (version 2.8), an update will be required to access the new symbols. Once the update is installed all documents will automatically change to the new graphics.

Download Updates:

InPrint
SymWriter

FAQs

  • open and closeWhy have you updated the family and male schema?

    The Widgit Symbol Schema underpins the Widgit Symbol Set, and we want to ensure all Widgit Symbols remain inclusive and reflective of life in the modern world.

    Family Schema

    The Widgit Symbols for family relationships are among our most foundational symbols, and this update includes the creation of new symbols to represent family relationships and gender variations that were previously absent from the symbol set.

    Male Schema

    With Widgit Symbols, most people are depicted as gender-neutral stick figures. To indicate gender, we previously used long hair and skirts for women and trousers for men. However, this approach often led to confusion, as gender-neutral symbols were frequently misinterpreted as male. Now, we've decided to add hair to all male symbols. This way, any stick figure with hair is considered to have a gender, while those without hair are gender neutral.

  • open and closeHow do I get the new symbols?

    InPrint 3 and SymWriter 2

    The 2024 Widgit Symbol Schema updates are included with the free software updates for InPrint 3 version 3.8 and SymWriter 2 version 2.8. To access this, simply update your version of the software. Following this update, all of your documents should automatically change to reflect the new symbol updates.

    Widgit Online

    The 2024 Widgit Symbol Schema updates are coming soon to Widgit Online.

Feedback

We hope that you will like the improvements we have made. We are planning more changes and would value your feedback.

Please send your comments to symbols@widgit.com

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