The Assignment:

Create a New "Stoop & Scoop" Icon

The Problem:

"Stoop & Scoop" is a genteel way of asking pet owners to clean-up the end result of their pets' digestive process. Understanding that all animals need to relieve themselves from time to time, the request is made of humans on behalf of themselves and their domesticated animals. One might see this as particularly applying to dogs walked during regular constitutionals.

The problem is to find a way to communicate this request in a manner both tasteful and direct. The icon should be sensitive to a variety of audiences. What some may see as humorous, others may find offensive.

Assessing & Approaching the Problem:

Charged with creating a universally-understood shorthand requesting that feces not be deposited in designated places, I considered the problem and several approaches. While catchy, a sign consisting of an order to "Pick Up Your Pet's Poop" suffers both from an excess of words and clarity. Although, to someone not in the poop loop, such a sign may actually prove unclear. To a visitor from the United Kingdom, for example, such a message might seem to be an exhortation to add some vim and vigor to your lethargic pet's exercise routine.

Before accessing the assignment's "Stoop & Scoop" url, I decided to consider some approaches on my own. After sketching out a few designs for the assignment icon I visited the "Stoop & Scoop" assignment site and perused existing icons. There I learned that some of the ideas I'd considered unique for conveying the message had, in fact, been done before me.

Back to the Drawing Board:

So I discarded various sketches featuring dogs and dog buttocks with big red slashes and Xs across the offending area.

I considered these two, as they were not too similar to those found on the class assignment url.

Research:

Still not satisfied, I decided to conduct a very mini focus group.

Turning to a multi-lingual and well-traveled medical professional, I asked about euphemisms for feces around the world. "There are many, just as there are here," she replied.

Considering her response, I had an idea and asked her about a particular bit of shorthand. She agreed that it was, in her actual experience, rather universally understood.

I set about creating an icon based on that discussion and this, then, is my result.

Rationale:

In a macro view, I consider this icon both quite subtle and effective. Finding an impromptu gathering of a half dozen acquaintances from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, I showed my icon and they all immediately sounded it out and understood the message.

In a micro view, the icon is less subtle. I've used a "hotdog" font for the 2, colored the 2 brown, and the triangular background shape symbolizes a pile of feces. The red border and slash are used to draw attention and convey a big "NO." Prohibitory or restrictive messages typically utilize a leftward slash throughout the world, although some countries in Africa and Asia use a rightward slash. I chose a rightward slash to subtly stand out.

Forgoing focusing solely on canines, this icon can be used for a variety of audiences—from dogs, of course, to cats, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, to letting persons without homes know that you'd appreciate it if they did not poop on the side of your business (I saw this once at a Goodwill location formerly in downtown Durham). In fact, the human application makes this icon that much more marketable.

Throughout the world, most restrictive or prohibitory signs consist of a circular canvas framed by a red border, and often with an accompanying red slash from upper left to lower right across the offending behavior. Such a canvas would be acceptable for my icon, but I chose an uninverted triangle for these reasons—to stand out, to represent a pile of poop and to offer some warning of danger. Uncurbed, animal and human feces presents several dangers to environments—including 1) contrary to popular belief, fresh feces is not a handy and effective fertilizer, en masse it can kill the living plants, 2) feces can transmit disease, and 3) piles of poop are considered unsightly in many cultures.

While the United States tends to use an inverted triangle for such messages as "Yield,' throughout much of the world the big-based bottom triangle warns of danger. Although I consider my icon rather universal, the primary market is in the US, so I chose the uninverted triangle as the canvas for my icon. Here's a variation to drive home the grass symbolism: