Making Sense
"Semiotics can be applied to creative development, artistic production, or policy design — not just to uncover meaning, but to shape it."
What makes semioticians tick? We asked members of the international community of semiotic practitioners to answer 10 questions. Here's a series overview, organized by region.
"Semiotics can be applied to creative development, artistic production, or policy design — not just to uncover meaning, but to shape it."
"Understanding people means understanding the context in which we operate, and the cultural webs of meanings we’re caught up in."
"I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that semiotics will be the last saving grace of humanity."
"At the start of a semiotics project, you do not know the answer. You also do not know exactly how you will get that answer. You need to be comfortable with that kind of uncertainty."
"There’s a whole untapped evidence base out there in the form of culture itself."
"Even with AI to hand, clients crave a strategic, human-centric approach — where analysis meets creativity to deliver razor-sharp, real-world solutions."
"Semiotics is inherently about acknowledging and holding a plurality of interpretations."
"Semiotics helps clients anticipate cultural shifts and uncover new opportunities, even in unpredictable times."
"People still want meaning. And meaning isn’t something you can automate."
"Every semiotician must engage in ideological critique, not just theoretically but also in their professional and personal life."
"A good semiotician has the eyes of a detective, the mind of a philosopher, and the soul of a poet."
"Like TCM, semiotics doesn’t provide an instant prescription or quick fix."