Semiotic Engineering

A theoretical framework developed by Clarisse Siqueira de Souza that views human-computer interaction as a form of designer-to-user communication mediated by the interface. In this model, the interface is not merely a tool but a message from designers to users, carrying an implicit model of the intended user (their expected behaviour, competence, and goals). Semiotic engineering has been applied to accessible interface design to argue that accessibility should go beyond exposing content (as WCAG primarily addresses) to preserving the designer's communicative intent across all modalities — a concept called communicational accessibility. This perspective highlights cases where WCAG-compliant solutions (such as empty alt text on symbolic images) may technically pass standards but fail to convey the meaning the designer intended.