The Symbolic level. A notebook and pencil together are
symbolic for a simple text editor, a notebook and a fountain pen for a
more advanced text editor. A car, a bucket and a brush symbolize an
application to wash a car.

The Object level. Objects often have an
archetypal form and deviations from that form. You can have a classical
watch or a Swatch. Someone looking for a tool to set the system time
may overlook the Swatch, he will not overlook the classical watch.

Each one of us has an other image of a classical watch in his mind. You
may have experienced being in a supermarket, looking for a certain
product, while having the wrong image of it in your mind. It is hard to
find then, while with the right image in mind it is spotted instantly.
For this reason the artist should not follow his own image and paint it
as he sees it in his mind's eye. He should bring it down to the
essential elements. These are often cartoonish. Instantly recognizable
for all.