16 July 2015
Media Release
The book that ruled them all at
the PANZ Book Design Awards 2015 was Cardboard Cathedral by Andrew
Barrie which won the best illustrated and best typography categories of the
awards for designer Janson Chau and publisher Auckland University Press.
“Contemporary seems an obvious
word when talking about Cardboard Cathedral but this possibly overused
description is completely appropriate here,” said international guest judge
Miriam Rosenbloom, Creative Director of Australian publisher Scribe. “Dive beneath
the high-gloss jacket to discover the bold de-bossed and foiled type on the
case which sets the standard for the rest of the book. Certainly
the clever paper stock selection is the possible hero of the book, but every
hero needs a side-kick and the typographic design of Cardboard Cathedral
makes for a pretty dynamic duo.”
Cardboard Cathedral then went on to win the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book
against competition from finalists in other categories. “In a year of strong
entries Cardboard Cathedral stood out right from the start with its
strong, bold design full of confidence and delicate touches,” said convening
judge Cameron Gibb, Creative Director of neu design[graphic].
Completing the
judging panel were 2014’s PANZ Young Designer of the Year, Kalee Jackson and
Director of Tangible Media, Vincent Heeringa.
Two children’s books were also
winners. I Am Doodle Cat designed by Lauren Marriott for Beatnik
Publishing won the best children’s book award. The judges appreciated its
bright, engaging colour palette supported by hand-rendered text integrating
beautifully with the playful illustrations.
The Curioseum: Collected
Stories of the Odd & Marvellous won
the best cover award for designer Sarah Laing and Te Papa Press. “A great
example of how a children’s book need not be childish,” said Cameron. “The
Curioseum is the story version of a 'wunderkammer’, supported by delightful
illustrations and the use of hand-rendered type for chapter headings, all
making for an engaging and fun read.”
The best non-illustrated book
award selected by the judges was The Critic’s Part: Wystan Curnow Art
Writings 1971 – 2013, designed by Alice Bonifant and a joint publication by
Victoria University Press, Adam Art Gallery and IMA. Kalee noted “This book of
art writing stood out to the judges for its well-executed typography and
consistently considered design throughout… the overall impression is of
restraint and a balance of classic and contemporary typographic influences
dealt with calmly and confidently.”
Meariki: The Quest for Truth is a graphic novel and winner of the best educational
book. Designed by Shannon Jahnel Lanktree and a collaboration by Huia
Publishers and Ministry of Education, “Meariki uses many devices well to
create a visually engaging read: the illustrations are rich and intricate,” was
Vincent’s enthusiastic comment. “Colour reinforces the sense of drama and the range
of characters is imaginative – who doesn’t like spider-riding zombie witch
queens?”
Kiwis love their cookbooks, and
four high profile finalists contested the best cookbook award this year. But
the judges could only choose one, and the 2015 winner is Al Brown’s Depot:
The Biography of a Restaurant designed by Gary Stewart and a Random House
publication.
“Depot sets out to tell a
story about the restaurant and the design helps achieve that admirably,” said
Kalee Jackson. “Colour plates feel integrated into the book as a whole,
shifting seamlessly from hero shots, to sketch, to restaurant ephemera, adding
to the sense of narrative rather than a simple catalogue of recipes. This book
would wear in well, the inevitable splashes and smudges accumulated through
kitchen use would add to its charm.”
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