Now You See Me: An Introduction to 100 Years of Black Design

by Charlene Prempeh

Previously marginalized, overlooked, or even erased from history, Black designers are finally given their due in this first book to celebrate a century of ground-breaking work by Black graphic artists, architects and fashion designers whose work has helped define key cultural moments and movements.

You’ve seen their work—but have you seen them? Black designers have been working in every major industry but, for the past decades, have not been given the spotlight anywhere near to the extent of their white counterparts. This vibrant and wide-ranging book, full of photographs and illustrations, aims to correct that oversight, bringing a century of Black designers and their work into focus.

Organized into three sections focusing on Fashion, Architecture and Graphic Design, Prempeh uses the pioneering work of key figures from the 20th and 21st century to explore important aspects of how Black design has been perceived within culture and society.

From the necessity of the side-hustle, to interrogating the value placed on Black design, from reclaiming traditions, to exploring how design can be a form of protest, this book brings to the fore the stories of figures such as Ann Lowe, Dapper Dan, Norma Sklarek, Francis Kéré, Emory Douglas and Liz Montague to unpick the complexities of being a Black designer.

200 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Camryn McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a great introductory run through of the history of the relationship between the Black Diaspora and design. The way the author explores themes in fashion, architecture, and design is interesting and the stories of the different designers are inspiring.

[Sibusiso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful, beautiful and important read, it would have been a 5 star read if there was a section on black artists in more detail, this is just a specific preference on what is a remarkable read.