Marking in L.A.: An Interview with François Chastanet by Steven Heller

Gangs use graffiti to leave their mark, but does the writing on the wall tell another story? Heller examines the calligraphic style called Cholo.

21 Writing Prompts for Design Students by David Barringer

Students don’t like to write, you say? Maybe it’s the assignments that are the problem. Barringer proposes 21 ways to inspire student writing.

Answering the Call to Service Design: An Interview with Phi-Hong Ha by Steven Heller

What is service design? Heller asks interaction designer Phi-Hong D. Ha to describe the skills needed and challenges posed by this emerging field.

Blood Types by Angela Riechers

Will the thirst for vampires ever be sated? Riechers examines the many incarnations of Nosferatu, Dracula and their ilk in popular culture and what they say about us.

Naming Names for Fun and Profit by Ralph Caplan

What is it about some brands that makes people want to be their walking billboards? Caplan reflects on the lure of logos and labels.

Neurath, Bliss and the Language of the Pictogram by Phil Patton

Are images more powerful and widely understood than words? Patton looks at the pictorial languages of Otto Neurath and Charles Bliss.

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