<p>In the Message journal issue 4 we wanted to create an arena where our discipline could discuss the nature and context of its role from an overtly political perspective.</p> <p>Whilst we felt in our bones there was an appetite for this, we were far from certain about its nature, scope and size. Consequently, the call for Message 4 was, to say the least, somewhat of a gamble. Thankfully, our hunches and speculations seem to have been close to the mark. We received more submissions for this call than the previous three issues combined.</p> <p>There was also an anticipation (albeit in hindsight a rather naive one) that some submissions might be positioned around conventional left, right and/or sustainable ecological perspectives. This did not really transpire. Nonetheless, we are very happy to say that the creative, eclectic and diverse nature of the responses has resulted in a range of exemplars that reflect the varied nature, concerns and foci of our vibrant discipline.</p> <p>These extend from John Calvelli’s philosophical dialectic on the fundamental nature and origin of images, their use and effects, to Elizabeth Herrmann’s self-initiated craft-based approach, to do good locally and make a social contribution. Both of these papers are also examples of the higher than usual number of submissions from North America, a substantial proportion of which relate to the politics of cultural and/or racial identity, such as Omari Souza’s, ‘Racist Motifs in Everyday Branding’.</p> <p>Message is dedicated to the development of Graphic Communication Design research. Particularly (although not exclusively) through authors’ analysis of and reflection on their own practice-based research.</p> <p>Through peer reviewed submissions and occasional commissioned essays, Message explores, discusses and challenges the boundaries, roles, practices and outputs of Graphic Communication Design. Past, present and future.</p>Introduction – Peter Jones Rethinking Graphic Design and the Design of Historical Arguments– Camila Afanador-Llach The Intersection of Electoral Politics and Design Education - Anne Berry & Sarah Rutherford Ecological Mourning and the Work of Graphic Communication Design – John Calvelli From High to Low and High Again – Kristen Coogan Speculative Graphic Design: The Idiot’s-Eye-View – James Dyer Free!* Reclaiming ‘freedom’ from the neoliberal lexicon - Cathy Gale Countering ‘Fake News’ in the Design Classroom - Anne M. Giangiulio Cards for Humanity: Constructing Meaningful Communities Through Unsolicited Do-Good Design - Elizabeth Herrmann Political Awareness and Engagement Through Banknote Design - Chae Ho Lee Personal value thinking in graphic communication design education – The introduction of a clarification tool for students - Gwen Lettis, Pamela Napier, Adam de Eyto & Muireann McMahon Passive, Brutish, or Civil? Racist Motifs in Everyday Branding - Omari Souza Countering the Othering of Others: Illustration Facilitating Empathy - Dave Wood Re-contextualising Illustration to Inform Sexual Consent – #JustSoYouKnow - Dave Wood