How can research findings, personal experiences, and complex ideas be translated into a concise visual identity? 45 Symbols—Clay to Code examines how emerging artists and designers develop systematic approaches to a visual language, inspired by one of the most enigmatic objects in media history: the 3,700-year-old, still-undeciphered Phaistos Disc, embossed with 45 distinct symbols. The works present a range from personal narratives to global themes and demonstrate how an original visual grammar can be constructed. Over more than a decade, the internationally organized design seminar series The Phaistos Project–Forty-five Symbols has developed into a global community driven by open calls, workshops, exhibitions, and risograph publications. The present volume, 45 Symbols – Clay to Code, brings together over 2,000 symbols as the result of these joint efforts. It is not only a living archive of research inquiries, but also a testament to collective experimentation, bold visions, and the expression of intercultural dialogue.