Introducing this special issue, Visual Metaphors, the role of metaphor and our various understandings of metaphor are discussed. Articles are introduced revealing their particular foundational position with regard to metaphor. The array of information applications covered by authors in this issue is broad, from italic type to nutrition diagrams, from computer interface to designers' abstraction processes. Examples with analyses regarding abstraction and reference are all part of the investigation. (Piet Westendorp and Karel van der Waarde)