Interactions Between the 3 Levels

For this week's blog update, I chose an icon with a representational role and abstract form characteristics: the Peugeot logotype. 

Representational
In terms of representation, the logo is a branding that features a fierce animal at the front of classy automobiles and sitting beside the name "Peugeot". It plays the part of conveying status and reliability the way the Gibson name connotes worth to electric guitar players. In this case, the symbolic and representational aspects of design are inter-related due to the depiction of a lion being a borrowed icon from medieval crests. This is associated with the royal lineages of Europe, as well as the imperialistic dominance of the times.


Abstract
The abstract qualities of the design are communicated best through the medium one finds it in. Shown above at the front of a car, in a shining metal not unlike other auto manufacturers' emblems, Peugeot's design stands out for the sharp contrasts in shape and motion. Note that the color, scale, and texture composition could be found at the front of a BMW, Ford, etc. This serves to enhance the aforementioned contrast and narrow one's focus on the uniquely organic form that strikes a recognizable pose. Where many other companies choose letter forms, regular  shapes, chevrons, and the like to describe themselves, the visual element that most dominates the Peugeot design is the statement of animal ferocity; the symbol of a lion.

Symbolic
Outside of the fact that the chosen design, itself, is a symbol that translates to "Peugeot", the content of that logotype is a symbolic entity which describes the values that the company's products stand for. The lion denotes power and royalty, "the king of beasts", bravery and courage. This symbol, alongside the merits of the vehicle it's been bestowed upon, influences the perspectives of critics and owners to perceive the automobile as to belong in the hands of a similarly characterized driver: a driver of muscle-cars, sports autos, and luxury purchases. Complimented by the pristine metal abstracted from industrial standards and the represented heraldry described above, the Peugeot branding confers that they are the king of autos.