Situated within the vast Karakum desert of western Central Asia, the Merv oasis exhibits a trove of archaeological sites, owing to its rich ancient and medieval history. Likely due to its strategic location along the historic Silk Roads, the oasis boasts no less than three distinct urban sites, each corresponding to a different period.

During the Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries CE), the city of Merv flourished as a significant centre of Islamic scholarship and occasionally served as a ...

Emmi Salonen is a graphic designer, creative director and educator. She founded London-based Studio Emmi in 2005.

Her work centres Positive Creativity – the idea that design can connect people, foster wellbeing and support sustainable choices. Emmi developed the Creative Ecosystem model to help reduce stress and burnout. A leading advocate for creative wellbeing, she speaks internationally at academic institutions and conferences.

Her commitment is grounded in both experience and research...

Why do some products become beloved while others are quickly forgotten? Design profoundly shapes our lives, often in unnoticed but significant ways.

Every design—from simple everyday products to complex systems and services—elicits emotions that influence our decisions, behavior, and well-being. Yet, the emotional dimension of design remains underexplored, leaving a wealth of opportunities untapped.

This book addresses this gap, revealing how designers can harness emotions to create pro...

This book takes a deep dive into visual design structures, focusing on the timeless principles of movement, space, and composition. While design tools and technologies continue to change, these core principles remain just as important. Written in a clear and engaging style, it’s perfect for students looking to build their foundation in design, and also a great resource for professionals who want to revisit or sharpen their skills.

The book goes beyond the basics of design, introducing fresh...

Welcome to a world where everything seems “wrong”: eating meat, smoking, sitting, flying, data, campfires, flowers on the table—even your houseplant might be a climate offender.

We’re flooded with dos and don’ts, as if daily life must constantly be corrected by a moral authority. But what if we didn’t shrink back in shame? What if we moved forward—with imagination?

The NO DESIGN MANIFESTO is a call for creative freedom.

At Next Nature, we don’t believe in going back to natur...

You want to change the world? Turns out the system isn’t built for that.

The Social Designer’s Paradox is a candid, compelling companion for anyone trying to make change from within public systems.

Social designers step into government and institutions full of creativity, care, and bold ideas—only to meet the reality of bureaucracy, politics, outdated structures, and a whole different language. This book explores why people who want to shake things up often struggle in systems designed ...

Most businesses don’t take qualitative research seriously. They see it as soft, vague—too uncertain to drive business strategy.

That’s why so many researchers see their insights ignored and struggle to gain buy-in.

Design Research Mastery changes the game. Sara Fortier teaches you how to transform research into a strategic catalyst—winning over skeptics and inspiring innovative products and services. Through a step-by-step approach, readers will master the planning, execution, and co...