Water Icons 2.0

From infrastructure and landscapes to rituals and laws, human engagement with water is both tangible and intangible, deeply influenced by societal preferences, climate conditions and historical choices. To better understand this diversity, we developed a set of icons to represent various water spaces, functions, practices and values. Rather than offering a fixed taxonomy, these icons are intended as tools for discussion – making visible the multiple dimensions of water and the meanings knowledge holders assign to it.

Read more about these icons in this article from Vol.4 No.1 of the Blue Papers.

The Blue Papers Set

The Blue Papers Set

The Blue Papers Set

This set is based on the original taxonomy developed in 2022, but with numerous additions and edits. The downloadable file comprises PNG, JPG and SVG formats for ease of use and adaptation.

The Sticker Set

The Sticker Set

The Sticker Set

This set was developed for ease of use in workshops and discussions, and is optimized for sticker and token formats. The downloadable file comprises PNG, JPG and SVG formats for ease of use and adaptation.

The Positive Assessment Set

The Positive Assessment Set

The Positive Assessment Set

This set encourages reflections on the positive status and externalities of a particular water function in time. The downloadable file comprises PNG, JPG and SVG formats for ease of use and adaptation.

The Negative Assessment Set

The Negative Assessment Set

The Negative Assessment Set

This also encourages reflections on the negative status and externalities of a particular water function in time. The downloadable file comprises PNG, JPG and SVG formats for ease of use and adaptation.