Necessity is the mother of invention, or in this case, authorship. We at Core77 believe that everyone who loves design, regardless of experience or background, shares a bond of appreciation and curiosity that leads them to seek out what's new, different and surprising. Too often, however, we find "design books" that cater exclusively to one view of practice or theory, ignoring the global perspective, and, more unfortunately, the common spark of excitement that drives us all to bring creative projects to life. With this in mind, we created Designing Here/Now, a powerfully inspirational anthology of the most interesting projects happening today, rendered with insight and depth that makes it simultaneously a perfect snapshot of contemporary design trends and a permanent reference of their impact. It is a singular resource that honors the intention behind great design and presents it in a manner that everyone can appreciate.

Like the Core77 Design Awards competition from which the book originated, Designing Here/Now documents the contemporary practice of design providing a reference point to both casual observer and seasoned pro. It documents an organic and shifting profession by showcasing a broad range of the application of design; by including projects by the next generation of designers, students; and by distributing the editorial process of inclusion across independently organized groups of professionals from around the globe.

But why did we make a physical book when a digital format would suffice? Where most saw limitations, we recognized an opportunity to make a statement. For both practitioners and fans of design, the Internet has made inspiring work more accessible only at the expense of the experience becoming superficial, stirring our creative appetites but providing meager sustenance. Details, description and credit are rare tidbits. The context of both project and process remains obscure, often existing only as adjacency within impulsively assembled collections. The result is a presentation of work that lacks meaningful framing. The collection of work within Designing Here/Now is the opposite. Each project is personally described by the team behind it, uniformly categorized and cited, and included after only thorough deliberation of design professionals. Readers therefore gain a deeper understanding of intention and processes that led to the final result and need to look no further than their coffee table or library to access this information.

We are proud of this publication because it sets a bar, so to speak, that is continually raised by the design community itself, that can serve as a common reference point for practice, reflecting the values and ideas we share. Learn more about the book at Core77.com/DesigningHereNow and purchase your copy at any of the following online retailers: Hand Eye Supply, Thames & Hudson, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.