Iconographic semantic stack: five layers for icons that serve both human and agent readers

Abstract

This thesis introduces the Iconographic Semantic Stack (ISS) – a five-layer framework for icons in interfaces now read by both humans and AI agents. Drawing on Reddit’s icon governance, Material Symbols, and emerging Model Context Protocol patterns, the framework names visual form, accessible label, behavior token, provenance, and intent metadata as the layers that determine whether an icon survives agent inference.