Design Forward
设计，下一步
Author: Nod Young
Book Design: Wang Zhihong
Photography: Wang Di
Year: 2025
ABCD is very pleased to see Nod’s book Design Forward published.
In this book, Nod speaks—both deeply and with ease—about the role we play in design collaborations. Unlike the language we have long used on our official website (also written by Nod), this book offers a more relaxed, first-person perspective that is closer to real experience. The cases are no longer presented in a standardized structure, but return to specific contexts, where design unfolds naturally as a form of judgment.
This provides another way to understand the work of ABCD. It is precisely through this contrast that the “distinctiveness” we have always insisted on becomes more tangible, rather than remaining at the level of language.
That is also why we recommend this book.
The design of the book itself is equally remarkable. At first glance, it feels more like a piece of packaging than a traditional book—the cover uses a thick, clean white Swedish paper stock, restrained and solid. But once opened, the inner pages feel soft, gentle, almost Eastern in character. This contrast is not deliberate for effect, yet it accurately reflects Nod’s own sensibility, and aligns with the direction we have consistently pursued: modern, yet full of emotion.
The book design is by Mr. Wang Zhihong, a long-time friend of ours. We are very happy to have invited him to design this book for Nod. The details mentioned above are all the result of his judgment and execution. We deeply admire this work—it feels very much like Nod, and at the same time, very much like Mr. Wang.
We would also like to thank Founder Type for supporting the Tsukushi typeface used in this book, as well as the editorial team at Cheers Publishing for their dedicated work throughout the publishing process.
Design Forward is now available. Readers in China can purchase it through major online platforms and offline channels; international readers can find purchase links via Nod’s personal website. www.nodyoung.info ︎︎︎
At a time when change is accelerating, when design is gradually losing its sense of authorship, and when many people feel uncertain, we may all find ourselves asking: what kind of preparation should we make? And how should we face our own lives?
Perhaps this book by Nod offers one possible answer.
Design Forward
Believe in Design.
In this book, Nod speaks—both deeply and with ease—about the role we play in design collaborations. Unlike the language we have long used on our official website (also written by Nod), this book offers a more relaxed, first-person perspective that is closer to real experience. The cases are no longer presented in a standardized structure, but return to specific contexts, where design unfolds naturally as a form of judgment.
This provides another way to understand the work of ABCD. It is precisely through this contrast that the “distinctiveness” we have always insisted on becomes more tangible, rather than remaining at the level of language.
That is also why we recommend this book.
The design of the book itself is equally remarkable. At first glance, it feels more like a piece of packaging than a traditional book—the cover uses a thick, clean white Swedish paper stock, restrained and solid. But once opened, the inner pages feel soft, gentle, almost Eastern in character. This contrast is not deliberate for effect, yet it accurately reflects Nod’s own sensibility, and aligns with the direction we have consistently pursued: modern, yet full of emotion.
The book design is by Mr. Wang Zhihong, a long-time friend of ours. We are very happy to have invited him to design this book for Nod. The details mentioned above are all the result of his judgment and execution. We deeply admire this work—it feels very much like Nod, and at the same time, very much like Mr. Wang.
We would also like to thank Founder Type for supporting the Tsukushi typeface used in this book, as well as the editorial team at Cheers Publishing for their dedicated work throughout the publishing process.
Design Forward is now available. Readers in China can purchase it through major online platforms and offline channels; international readers can find purchase links via Nod’s personal website. www.nodyoung.info ︎︎︎
At a time when change is accelerating, when design is gradually losing its sense of authorship, and when many people feel uncertain, we may all find ourselves asking: what kind of preparation should we make? And how should we face our own lives?
Perhaps this book by Nod offers one possible answer.
Design Forward
Believe in Design.
ABCD 非常开心 Nod 出版了这本《Design Forward 设计，下一步》。
在这本书中， Nod 以一种既深刻又轻松的方式，讲述了我们在设计合作中所扮演的角色。与我们官方网站上长期使用的表达方式（虽然同样出自 Nod 之手）不同，这本书提供了一个更加松弛、更接近真实经验的第一视角。案例的讲述不再是标准化的结构，而是回到具体情境之中，让设计作为一种判断，自然地在读者面前展开。
这为理解 ABCD 的工作提供了另一种入口。也正是在这样的对照中，我们所坚持的那种“独特性”，才能变得更加具体，而不仅仅停留在语言之上。
这也是我们推荐这本书的原因。
此外，书籍本身的设计同样令人印象深刻。它在第一眼看上去更像是一件“包装设计 Packaging Design”，而不是一本传统意义上的书——封面的使用来自瑞典洁白的卡纸，厚重而克制。但当你翻开它，内页的纸张却是东方的，柔软的、温和的。这种反差并不刻意，却非常准确地回应了 Nod 本人的气质，也对应着我们一直以来所坚持的设计方向：一种现代的，同时带有情感的表达。
本书的书籍设计由王志弘先生完成。他是我们多年相识的老朋友，非常开心能够邀请到他为 Nod 设计这本书。上述这些细节，正是出自王志弘先生的判断与处理。我们对此深感钦佩——这本书既非常像 Nod，也非常像王志弘先生。
同时，我们也要感谢方正字库对本书内文字筑紫黑体的支持，以及湛庐出版的编辑团队在整个出版过程中所付出的细致工作。
目前，《Design Forward 设计，下一步》已经正式上市。中国读者可以在各大电商平台及线下渠道购买；海外读者则可以通过 Nod 的个人主页获取购买信息。
在变化不断加快、设计逐渐丧失主体性、而人们普遍感到信心不足的当下，我们或许都会问：应该做出怎样的准备？又该如何面对自己的人生？
也许，Nod 老师的这本书，会提供一种答案。
Design Forward
设计，下一步。
相信设计。
在这本书中， Nod 以一种既深刻又轻松的方式，讲述了我们在设计合作中所扮演的角色。与我们官方网站上长期使用的表达方式（虽然同样出自 Nod 之手）不同，这本书提供了一个更加松弛、更接近真实经验的第一视角。案例的讲述不再是标准化的结构，而是回到具体情境之中，让设计作为一种判断，自然地在读者面前展开。
这为理解 ABCD 的工作提供了另一种入口。也正是在这样的对照中，我们所坚持的那种“独特性”，才能变得更加具体，而不仅仅停留在语言之上。
这也是我们推荐这本书的原因。
此外，书籍本身的设计同样令人印象深刻。它在第一眼看上去更像是一件“包装设计 Packaging Design”，而不是一本传统意义上的书——封面的使用来自瑞典洁白的卡纸，厚重而克制。但当你翻开它，内页的纸张却是东方的，柔软的、温和的。这种反差并不刻意，却非常准确地回应了 Nod 本人的气质，也对应着我们一直以来所坚持的设计方向：一种现代的，同时带有情感的表达。
本书的书籍设计由王志弘先生完成。他是我们多年相识的老朋友，非常开心能够邀请到他为 Nod 设计这本书。上述这些细节，正是出自王志弘先生的判断与处理。我们对此深感钦佩——这本书既非常像 Nod，也非常像王志弘先生。
同时，我们也要感谢方正字库对本书内文字筑紫黑体的支持，以及湛庐出版的编辑团队在整个出版过程中所付出的细致工作。
目前，《Design Forward 设计，下一步》已经正式上市。中国读者可以在各大电商平台及线下渠道购买；海外读者则可以通过 Nod 的个人主页获取购买信息。
在变化不断加快、设计逐渐丧失主体性、而人们普遍感到信心不足的当下，我们或许都会问：应该做出怎样的准备？又该如何面对自己的人生？
也许，Nod 老师的这本书，会提供一种答案。
Design Forward
设计，下一步。
相信设计。
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