[ Framework Metric ]
STS: Semantic Transparency Score.
A score for how directly a pictogram communicates the intended message.
Definition
STS measures the directness of meaning between the visible pictogram and the intended user message.
Core Idea
Recognition is not transfer.
Recognizing a symbol does not imply successful communication of the intended meaning or action.
[ How To Read It ]
What The Metric Measures.
The reading applies to the submitted pictogram, expected message, user group, and evidence window.
Whether the visible referent points to the intended meaning without heavy explanation.
Whether object recognition becomes action understanding.
How much the pictogram depends on labels, placement, or learned convention.
High Reading
A high STS means the pictogram expresses the intended message directly.
Low Reading
A low STS means the intended message depends on support, convention, or surrounding context.
[ Limits ]
What It Does Not Claim.
STS does not replace user interpretation testing.
STS does not measure brand preference or visual taste.
STS is evaluated against the submitted intended message, not every possible interpretation.
[ Examples ]
How It Appears In Reports.
A literal emergency-exit pictogram can have high STS when the direction and action are visible.
A floppy disk used for save can have lower STS because the object is recognized by some users but the action is learned.
[ Related Metrics ]