Restroom Iconography X: Big Basin Showers

YES!!

Just a simple graphic, but one that makes me very happy.
I'm a man of simple pleasures (really...).
A convertible car, a pepperoni pizza, and a long... hot... shower...

You can even take away the first two, but don't deny me my shower.

Anyway, I am always delighted to see this icon, even if I don't need it.
It's a symbol in the best way.

Restroom Iconography VIII: Hotel California, Todos Santos

I've been documenting restroom icons for a few years now, and posting them for the past 6 months.

On my recent trip to La Paz, Mexico, I found the mother of all restroom icons. It's the Grand Canyon, Holy Grail, and Elvis of restroom icons.
It's the... well, you get the picture.

These icons are everything I like in an icon. Colorful, primitive, large and clear. It's hard to imagine that anyone will misunderstand these.

The icons are found at the Hotel California in Todos Santos, an artsy village located halfway between Los Cabos and La Paz in Baja Sur. It's a really pleasant place to spend a day.

There is some debate over whether this is the Hotel California that inspired the Eagles. If it isn't, well, it seems like it could have...
Come to think of it, doesn't that look like Glenn Frey on the right side?

Restroom Iconography V: Hawaii

Hawaii must be a mecca of improvisational restroom icon design.

I found a number of interesting variations during this recent trip.
This sign is located at Honolulu International Airport.

Once again, we have a simple update of the traditional international icon.
The addition of an aloha shirt and the Hawaiian word for man tells us where we are, while maintaining the integrity of the original design.

How can you localize a standard offering with a splash of color or a pattern?

Restroom Iconography IV: Hawaii

In our continuing series of restroom iconography, we return to Hawaii.
This week, we find another creative interpretation of the familiar international icon.

Two nice features here:

1. The use of petroglyph symbols for the icons. I'm a big petroglyph fan, so I appreciate the nod to ancient culture - even if they probably just used a bush back then.
2. The use of Hawaiian language. The Hawaiian language is a beautiful one, so I'm pleased whenever I see it.

One minor criticism: The woman looks like an Amazon.
She's quite a bit bigger than the male icon. Too much poi?

Restroom Iconography III: Japan

This is a no-peeing zone...

In a country where a man can heed natures' call just about anywhere - in an alley, in a bush, by the side of the road, off the end of a train platform - it's rare to find a place where you can't relieve yourself (just another reason why I love Japan).

Here, however - in a Tokyo parking lot by a pachinko parlor in a neighborhood close to Asakusa Temple - peeing is prohibited.

There is much to admire about this icon: The realistic pelvic thrust, the dotted stream, and of course the strategic placement of the cross line.

I also will give extra points for going with a square versus the usual circular red 'no' symbol.

It's a sign of my maturity that I didn't steal the darn thing (it would look great in my office).

And a sign of my immaturity that I regret that I didn't steal it...

Restroom Iconography II: Hawaii

Here's the 2nd in my series of photos that capture creative restroom icons around the world.

This one is from Hawaii.

Unfortunately, my notes don't indicate where these restrooms are.

If you know, please share...

The previous image I shared displayed a very loose interpretation of the international icon for a human figure.

This one, on the other hand, embraces the rounded, bland figure that we're all familiar with and dresses it up with a grass skirt, coconut bikini, and frangipani flower.

Restroom Iconography I: Mexico

Maybe it's my fascination with the human figure.
Maybe it's my interest in graphic design.

Maybe I'm just odd...

Whatever the reason, I am unreasonably delighted when I encounter a restroom with an atypical male/female icon on its' signboard.

I found this elegant icon outside the ladies room at the Marquis Resort in Los Cabos. I was waiting there for my wife (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

I'm not sure that Frank Lloyd Wright had restroom signs in mind when he said, "God is in the details". At the same time, I'm pretty sure he'd approve.