Danish design student Susanne Koefoed created the International Symbol of Access back in 1968 and as ubiqituos as it’s become, there’s a passivity to the design that’s arguably been bested by the newer “Accessible Icon.” With its own emoji and escalating adoption around the globe, the newer symbol began as a Boston-area street art project which tackled perceptions of “disability and the built environment.” Now, it’s a point of controversy. As Atlas Obscura notes, “It has variously been called ableist and empowering; officially rejected by the ISO; and deemed federally illegal, despite having been adopted by the states of New York and Connecticut.” To learn more about perception and prevalence, head over to Atlas Obscura.
Redesigning the Wheelchair Symbol into the Accessible Icon
