This first part of a two-part series written by DK Holland for Communication Arts magazine discusses the varying approaches and opinions surrounding spec work the its related legal and ethical issues.

Being able to understand safety messages and public information despite language barriers or illiteracy is possible thanks to internationally harmonised graphical symbols developed by the International Organization for Standardization.

In this article from segdDESIGN, Pat Matson Knapp describes how a new signage and wayfinding program for the National Mall in Washington DC will inform and guide visitors, but while treading lightly.

Respected author, academic and design thinker, Victor Margolin chats with Russell Kennedy, Icograda President about future directions in design and his anxiously awaited book on the history of design.

Farshid Mesghali looks at the various factors present in the growth and evolution of graphic design in Iran and how a refreshed approach to the profession would help a new design generation truly tap in to the richness of this country.

Jenny S. Reising walks us through the Legible London wayfinding system that aims to simplify a complex city and encourage walking, with the aim of making London one of the most walkable cities in the world by 2015.

Miguel Neiva presents ColorAdd® colour coding system for the colourblind. Now the first fully licensed design of its kind, ColorAdd® has become a challenging and motivating project for the designer, who is currently working with a multidisciplinary team in Portugal to expand its reach.

This excerpt from Eric Karjaluoto's first book, Speak Human - Outmarket the Big Guys by Getting Personal, is a useful reference for agencies and clients alike to find, strengthen and be true to their brand. Being small, he argues, is precisely where the advantage lies.

We are grateful to past Icograda President (1987-1989) Niko Spelbrink, who drafted this tribute to Brian Davies. We remember Brian fondly for his contributions to Icograda and for his integrity, wisdom and wit.

Prof. Michael Hardt looks at the impact of unethical design on current global issues, and our growing recognition of the role designers play in this process. Are designers the victims or the culprit? Either way, if we designed the problem, we can design our way out of it.