same, raised and educated the same, then a universal language developed within this society would function well. However, Isotype had few opportunities for testing their design effectiveness outside the western world.

During the 1950s Marie Neurath was invited to Nigeria to help educate the public on healthcare, schooling and to understand the infrastructure of the country. (fig.2). Throughout her time there, Marie slowly accustomed the Nigerian people to use pictograms as a form of education, and to help illustrate important information about many things, for example how education can improve your life. ‘I was astonished by the kind of questions that they put to me: what appeared fundamental to them was also what is fundamental to me.’ (Neurath. M, 2009. pg 75-76). Marie found that by Nigerian and European people seeking for the same things in life, a certain continuity was found amongst people that could help in the development of more universal pictograms.

fig.2 Neurath.M, Isotype Booklet Nigeria, 1955

This was the only time the Isotype principles were tested outside of Europe. It presented evidence that a pictographic approach to communication improved understanding, although the pictographic depictions needed to be adapted to the culture and society of Nigeria. In order for a language to be universal it needs to be adapted through interpretation and understanding of the image by the reader, rather than dictated by the author. (QUOTE) If the style of an image is adapted to a new reader then the new version wouldn’t hold the same associations and representations of something such as a home, to the original reader.

Isotype showed that image combined with text broadens understanding within a society with information sharing and understanding. One of the key principles within the movement was designed b