Since the emergence of print culture and modern design consciousness, the question of “what are the most beautiful books” has never ceased to be debated. Today, under the dominance of digital dissemination, information is instantly accessible. Book design has long since moved beyond the realm of mere decoration. It is not only about editing and binding, but also about concepts and exploration. Design gives form to thought and transforms knowledge into experience. The persistent pursuit of beauty reflects book designers’ attentiveness to both form and content, and their ongoing search for the most fitting relationship between the two.

In this issue of Design360°, we invite book designers from different countries and regions to explore, through the theme of “what are the most beautiful books,” the significance and possibilities of book design in the digital age. When we speak of “the most beautiful books,” our aim is not to pursue dazzling visual effects, but to arrive at a deeper understanding of what constitutes the beauty of books, and how design can awaken that beauty — allowing books to become objects of genuine value. Perhaps we can imagine that “the most beautiful books” do not exist solely within competitions and awards, but is instead embodied in every moment of reading that reveals the openness and possibilities of design.