Some international symbols — like the male and female figures on restrooms — are so ubiquitous it's easyto forget that they were actually new at one time, and that someone actually designed them. In fact, it'spossible that no designers' products ever touch more people than these ingenious pictograms, whichcould be called the ultimate clip art. Even with the most extreme reduction to essentials, their drawingsare capable of conveying sensuality, surprise and precise information, wrote the seminar Swisstypographer Hans-Rudolf Lutz — I have come to admire these unsung designers. This delightful book — a sure source of wonder and inspiration for professional designers — details aSwedish national competition aimed at creating standards for making public symbols more uniform anduseful, in keeping with the concept of Design for All. Making important information clearly available toeveryone is more than a matter of design — it's a matter of democracy and human rights. Competition entries are presented by category such as medical center, library, playground, travel center,evacuation meeting point and internet cafà ©. The winning entry, the nominated entries and the honorablementions are presented in their entirety. All wonderful ideas coming soon to a wall near you.