Structure of Symbols
Nico Mitchem
This thesis is an archival study into the role of symbols across human cultures, tracing the origins of these shapes and analyzing their geometric structures. Presenting them in various contexts, I explore the notion that these eternal forms tap into something deep within us.
The spiral, for example, isn’t purely an aesthetic motif but a structure inscribed within our biology, from DNA strands to galactic clusters. Many shapes throughout history have been intertwined with belief systems, transcending their origin to become markers of collective identity. What became most evident to me from this project is how symbols exist in a realm beyond language. Whether political, religious, utilitarian, or commercial, symbols can inform how we understand ourselves and each other. This book is an attempt to serve as both an archive and a reflection on a universal visual language.
As the project evolved, I found myself cataloging shapes and uncovering the emotional and psychological weight they carry across generations. These visual forms are not passive but active elements in shaping memory, community, and ideology. By decoding their historical uses and modern appropriations, Structure of Symbols seeks to highlight how symbols continue to evolve while remaining rooted in shared human experience. Ultimately, it offers a lens through which to view the visual infrastructure of connection—how meaning is built, passed down, and reimagined through the language of form.