Since the early 20th century, Chicago has continually fostered young design talents and established itself as a pivotal center for the arts. To celebrate this historical lineage of design and the 25th anniversary of the Department of Architecture’s founding, Young Chicago looks at the community’s diverse body of contemporary designers—who are not yet represented in the collection—to showcase the city’s ever-growing talents in architecture, industrial design, graphic design, and fashion. In the coming year, works from these studios will become part of the collection in keeping with the newly expanded mission of the renamed Department of Architecture and Design.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the publications department presents a beautifully illustrated, 104-page catalogue. The second installment in the Art Institute’s A&D Series, the book includes an essay by exhibition curator Joseph Rosa that traces the evolution of design in Chicago from its origins to today’s “Young Chicago.” The catalogue will be available in late November in the Museum Shop and online at www.artinstituteshop.org. You can visit the exhibit until 29 April 2007.