Instructions

Traditional stained glass is often perceived as a symbol of luxury. Its golden age was during the Gothic period, when stained glass windows in churches served not only a decorative but also an explanatory function – in a way, they acted as a form of early infographic. At a time of low literacy rates, narratives were conveyed through symbols. Interestingly, symbolic storytelling is still used today, for example in household appliance instruction manuals. Although literacy is now nearly universal, the multifunctionality of modern tools and devices makes plain text insufficient, prompting a return to symbolic language for clearer communication.