Now You See Me: An Introduction To 100 Years Of Black Design, Charlene Prempeh

 

Now You See Me reclaims a century of overlooked creative genius from Black designers across fashion, architecture and graphic design. Organised into three colour‑rich sections, the book celebrates pioneering figures—from Ann Lowe’s couture to Dapper Dan’s high‑fashion historiography and Francis Kéré’s sculptural architecture—revealing how their work shaped style, identity and cultural value through necessity, protest and innovation. Each section combines archival imagery, contemporary photography and insightful interviews, creating a compelling visual essay on the intersection of design, race and cultural visibility.

Structured not as a chronicle of struggle but as a dynamic testament to influence, Now You See Me foregrounds design as both personal statement and social act. It asks: you’ve seen their work—but have you seen them? Through sharp curation and lush aesthetics, the volume brings to the fore a previously hidden lineage of Black creativity, making it essential reading for anyone interested in fashion, design and cultural justice.

About the Author
Charlene Prempeh is a leading voice in design history, with a focus on cultural equity and representation. Drawing on archival research and contemporary interviews, she assembles this first-of-its-kind anthology to honour Black design legacies, illuminating lives and practices that have long shaped global culture—finally giving them the spotlight.

Publication date: 2023
Publisher: Prestel
Pages: 200
ISBN: 9783791388472