Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze characteristics of effective expression on T-shirts pattern by peirce's semiotic theory. The methods of this study was to analyze 721 T-shirts patterns in designer's collection from 2000 to 2004. The results of this study were as follows: First of all, iconic expression showed high frequency after 2000. Characteristics of effective expression were as follows: In geometric expression, repetition was presented as a symbolic sign by regular proportion and rule of dot, line, plane, irregularity, mixture of irregular dot, line, plane. Mixed expression was presented as a iconic and symbolic sign by collage, mixture of dot, line, plane, icon and letter. In iconic expression, simplification of iconic sigrl was presented as a iconic sign by simplification of form, color, texture, realistic expression using digital as a iconic sign, and symbolic face, body as a symbolic sign. Pop art's expression was presented as a iconic sign by a cartoon and commercial character and illusion was presented as a iconic sign. In letter's expression, brand logo was presented as a symbolic sign by transformation of letter's design, a symbolic sign of numeral by transformation of size, thickness, form, color. Symbolic message phrase was presented by slogan, fashion trend, brand image, descriptive indication message as a index sign by using icon or singleness. In conclusion, characteristics of effective expression on T-shirts pattern will present not only the theoretical foundation to raise the value added, but also the information about beauty sense of times, political and social value.