Core77

China Design Now is a broadly ambitious overview of the massive wave of creativity currently rising in Chinese cities, first conceived in 2008 at the V&A in London. It's in the US now, hitting Cincinnati last year, and opening this past weekend at the Portland Art Museum, to much local anticipation and glee.

The reason we're mentioning it now? The location, for one: an easy stroll for Core77's Portland-based west coast contributors. Second is the involvement of several local design houses, notably Ziba, who worked on the show's online presence and exhibition staging, and ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, whose creative director John Jay helped bring it to town.

The other reason is self-serving: Coroflot's own Carl Alviani will be interviewing graphic designer Freeman Lau on November 7 as part of the exhibition, and is guest editing the China Design Now Portland blog, spotlighting new work by Chinese designers on Coroflot.

Readers in or visiting Portland: it's a unique and fascinating show, and the last chance to see it in the US -- go now. Everyone else: the blog includes content from an array of contributors in business, media and academia, including Chinese design & manufacturing expert Rob Curedale, and is an excellent place to get up to speed on the world's fastest-growing design economy.