Edited by Justin McGuirk and Brendan McGetrick, California: Designing Freedom explores the state’s unique influence on contemporary design – from the politics of liberation and counterculture to the global dominance of Silicon Valley’s user-centred tools. The book frames California not only as a geographic region but as a powerful design ideology, tracing how ‘Designed in California’ became the new ‘Made in Italy’.

As a Californian myself, this was a particularly meaningful project to work on — both editorially and personally. As Project Editor, I managed the publication from manuscript development through to final delivery, with a focus on visual content strategy. I coordinated contributors, oversaw copyediting and worked closely with the picture research team to source and sequence imagery that captured California’s design language — from psychedelic posters and surf culture to UI screens and product prototypes. This editorial oversight extended to image permissions, proofing and final approvals, ensuring coherence with the exhibition while giving the book an independent life as a cultural artefact in its own right.