Print‘s 2012 Regional Design Annual is now out in the world. Inside you’ll find the best in American graphic design, as selected by our esteemed judges: Sarah Gephart (MGMT. Design), Sagi Haviv (Chermayeff & Geismar), Nicole Jacek (formerly of Karlssonwilker), Jason Kernevich and Dustin Summers (the Heads of State), Renda Morton (The New York Times), and Emily Oberman (Pentagram).
Also inside, Steven Heller analyzes the Annual for clues to the current state of design; Claire Lui and Douglas Wolk choose this year’s best book and album art; and Paul Shaw and Stephen Coles pick six notable American typefaces from 2012. Those six typefaces are used to present our six regions, and they became the basis for illustrations by Outpost LA, Armin Vit, Rick Valicenti/3st, IAAH—I Am Always Hungry, Jennifer Lucey-Brzoza, and OCD.
Speaking of illustrations: On the cover is Jason Polan‘s droll depiction of how (and where) designers work today. It won out among dozens of cover options; in the coming days, we’ll be sharing some of the alternate covers on Print‘s Tumblr.
Purchase the 2012 Regional Design Annual, or download a PDF version, at MyDesignShop.com.