The Marginalian
The Marginalian

Life in Five Seconds: Minimalist Pictogram Summaries of Pop Culture and Historical Events

By Maria Popova

While reductionism in science might be a terrible idea, graphic reductionism in pop culture can be a source of endless delight. In 2011, Milan-based creative agency H-57 brought us an entertaining series of minimalist pictogram flowcharts depicting famous lives, from Darth Vader to Jesus. This year, they’re out with an entire book titled Life in Five Seconds (UK; public library), applying the same irreverent aesthetic to everything from cult movies to the biographies of historical figures.

Complement with the history of how pictograms came to dominate visual culture and their early use in vintage infographics.

↬ Laughing Squid

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Published January 23, 2013
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https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/01/23/life-in-five-seconds-h-57/
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