This study reports on personal identity reflection in personal symbols created by first year design students. The personal symbols, together with descriptive texts that answer the prompt question: How does the personal symbol created reflect you as a designer? created by first year design students were used to identify the common themes relating to identity reflection and the extent of how connotative meanings are embedded in the personal symbols. Using the method of thematic analysis on the descriptive texts, 6 themes relating to personal identity reflection are identified including (1) Personal Preference, (2) Personal Names, (3) Character Personality, (4) Cultural Identity, (5) Design Style and (6) Design Philosophy. The extent of how connotative meanings are embedded in the personal symbols was analysed using Barthes’ visual semiotics analysis. It is proposed that there is a correlation of recurring themes across the two sets of findings, which is the theme (1) character persona.....

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