Denotative vs Connotative Meaning in Visual Communication #3267940 (License: Personal Use)

The left drawing depicts a steaming coffee cup labeled “DENOTATIVE,” representing the straightforward, dictionary definition of the object. The right drawing shows a top-down view of coffee with swirling text reading “OUR MEMORIES” and a spoon, labeled “CONNOTATIVE,” illustrating how the same object evokes personal, cultural, or emotional associations. Dated April 26, 2016, this ink-and-brown-pencil sketch serves as a teaching tool for semiotics and design thinking.

Used in educational content about semiotics, graphic design, linguistics, or branding-especially in blog posts, course materials, or presentations explaining symbolic meaning. Matches user intent to understand abstract concepts through visual analogy.