The 100 Show Design Year in Review

The 100 Show holds a special place among graphic design competitions. It identifies not only current trends in visual communication, but also the edges of design practice where individuals explore ideas not yet seen in the mainstream of practice. Projects included in this competition represent the work of established firms for well-recognized clients, designers devoting their personal time to important work for nonprofits, and students exploring new frontiers through previously unpublished work. It is the goal of this competition to surface new thinking about the solution of communication problems and to anticipate the "next" ideas to shape our field.
The format for the judging of the 100 Show also sets it apart. Unlike most design competitions in which winners are determined by juror consensus, the 100 Show is "curated." A competition chair selects three jurors after careful consideration of what they bring to contemporary discourse on design. Each juror picks his/her own show against individually determined criteria. The results are three points of view about design and interesting intersections of thought around works that attract the eye and mind of more than one juror. The essays by these jurors provide a context for their selections, as well as commentary on where we stand as a profession.
This book also documents important ideas in other fields. In keeping with the curated format, essays by leading designers and critics on new products and new media provide personal insights about what the future may hold. "Snapshots" of the year in review, these essays also serve as harbingers of things to come.
This year's competition was chaired by Michael Rock. The American Center for Design selected Michael for his versatility and his leadership in setting an agenda for design. A designer, educator, and author, Michael Rock has his finger on the pulse of design practice and criticism. Confirming the wisdom of this decision, Michael has assembled a diverse group of jurors whose abilities to critique and articulate thoughts about design are evident in the following pages.
Katherine McCoy