Abstract
This study aims to examine the symbolism of the emblems of World Expositions by using Victor Turner's symbolic theory as a research method, and to reveal the symbolic types behind them by classifying the emblem designs of different periods and themes. The research object is 12 comprehensive World's Fair emblems from the 1939 New York World's Fair in the United States to the 2025 Osaka World's Fair in Japan, as identified by Bureau International des Expositions. The research method mainly adopts documentary research to collect historical information and theoretical frameworks related to the design of World's Fair emblems. In the analysis process, Victor Turner's symbolic sign theory is used as the main analytical framework to link the design elements of emblems to their relevance to specific societies and cultures in order to reveal the themes, values and ideas represented by the emblem symbolism. The results of the study show that the design of the Expo emblem uses different symbols, including material symbols, behavioral symbols, sensory symbols, natural symbols, social symbols and virtual symbols, to convey the core concepts, themes and values of the Expo. Through different types of symbols, the Expo emblem shows a wide range of concerns about technology and the future, mankind and the world, nature and ecology, and society and innovation. The symbolic design of the emblem plays an important role in conveying the core concept and theme of the Expo.