The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide To The Hidden World Of Everyday Design - Non Fiction - Hardcover
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Title:
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781529355277
Overview:
Step into the city as a field laboratory with The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design. This compelling hardcover invites you to look beyond the declared purpose of sidewalks, signage, and street furniture and to notice the quiet design decisions that steer our daily routines. From the curvature of a curb ramp to the placement of a bench, from daylighting in a transit station to the pattern of pavements that guide our feet, the book uncovers how ordinary spaces are engineered for clarity, comfort, and safety—often with lasting cultural impact. Written with warmth and curiosity, it blends urban design, architectural history, and cultural observation into bite-sized explorations that are accessible to curious readers, design students, travellers, and city lovers alike. Each entry decodes why something exists, how it evolved, and what it reveals about the people who built and use our cities. If you’ve ever wondered why cities feel smarter or more human in some places than others, this guide invites you to read the city differently and to notice the beauty in everyday design.
What Makes This Book Stand Out:
Unlike traditional architecture texts, this title adopts a field-guide approach to everyday design, turning urban features into approachable, story-led explorations. It cultivates a mindset of observation, inviting readers to become city detectives who notice the subtle decisions behind wayfinding, accessibility, and public space. The tone is welcoming and practical, making complex topics approachable for non-specialists while offering fresh perspectives for design students and professionals alike. Richly grounded in cultural context, the book connects micro-design choices to broader social and historical currents, helping readers see how small decisions ripple through daily life. A premium hardcover format enhances the reading experience, making it a thoughtful gift, a desktop reference, or a travel companion for moments of urban curiosity.
Who This Book Is Perfect For:
This book is ideal for urban explorers and design enthusiasts who want to understand the built environment beyond its surface. It suits readers curious about how cities work, students studying architecture or urban planning, travellers seeking smarter sightseeing, and gift buyers looking for something substantive yet highly readable. It’s a great pick for book clubs exploring design-thinking topics, teachers and classrooms exploring urban studies, and anyone who enjoys a tactile, visually engaging non-fiction read. If you love noticing the hidden logic behind everyday objects and spaces, this field guide will become a trusted companion on commutes, trips, and leisurely afternoons spent observing the city you inhabit.
Key Highlights:
- Bite-sized explorations of the everyday design that surrounds us
- Linking urban design, architecture, and cultural context with clarity
- Accessible, curiosity-driven writing that invites re-examination of familiar spaces
- Premium hardcover format suitable for shelves, gifting, and study
- Perfect for design lovers, urban explorers, students, and professionals
- Encourages mindful observation and a fresh vocabulary for discussing cities
About the Author:
The author team behind The 99% Invisible City brings a deep passion for revealing the hidden design stories that shape daily life. Drawing on decades of experience in design history, architecture, and cultural analysis, they illuminate the quiet decisions embedded in streets, buildings, signage, and public spaces. The writing balances accessibility with rigor, delivering engaging explanations that illuminate how design influences behavior, mood, and safety. With a voice that mirrors the approachable spirit of urban exploration, they invite readers to view the familiar city through a design-minded lens—one that rewards curiosity, careful observation, and a appreciation for well-considered public space. This book stands as a celebration of everyday design and the people who design for everyone, everywhere.
Why You’ll Love This Book:
If you’ve ever paused on a city corner to wonder why a sign sits just there or how a bench invites a moment of rest, this is the guide that helps you answer those questions. The 99% Invisible City delivers a premium, readable journey into the design decisions that shape daily life, turning ordinary streets into a catalogue of human ingenuity. Its field-guide format makes it easy to dip in for quick lessons or read cover-to-cover for a satisfying deep dive. The hardcover, thoughtful layout, and clear explanations make it a superb gift for design lovers and urban explorers alike, while also serving as a practical reference for students, teachers, and curious readers who want to see the world with fresh eyes.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
