Inside the Controversial Wheelchair Logo Redesign

It’s everywhere. In bathrooms, on accessibility ramps, automatic doors, parking lots, you name it. It’s the International Symbol of Access, aka the Wheelchair Symbol, or “the little blue sign.” But, as Atlas Obsucra reports, “a rogue icon has rolled quietly into sight.” It began as a Boston-based street art project and has blossomed into an international movement — but not without a fair share of controversy. Take a look at the “Accessible Icon,” as it’s known, and all the drama behind it in this story. We love how it illustrates the power of logo design and how a slight shift in design can spark a dialogue and a movement.

Photo credit: Cooper Hewitt