There’s nothing like the irresistible allure of a beautifully made book, and entries for the 2021 PANZ Book Design Awards show New Zealanders have never had so many to choose from. With nearly 150 submissions received for this year’s awards, the four judges faced a real challenge when it came to settling on a shortlist.

The increase in entries was especially evident in the submissions for the Allen & Unwin Award for Best Commercial Book for Adults and the Upstart Press Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book, both of which attracted a significant increase in entries, showcasing a range of books from the minimalist to the extravagant.

A fair amount of type-spotting went on, with judges considering everything from binding methods and cloth choices to illustrative styles and visual rhythm. The extremely high standard of entries made for some robust discussions and difficult decisions, but ultimately the judges agreed on the clear stand-out titles for this year’s shortlist, even if reaching a verdict meant they had to reschedule their flights home as discussion raged into the night. Convening judge Simon Waterfield said: “Designers lavished a high level of care and detail in service
of these beautiful books – with the level of collaboration from editorial and design through to print and print-finishing clearly evident.”

The profile of the PANZ Book Design Awards has grown year on year, with increasing submissions and large attendance numbers at the Awards ceremony, it is a highlight of the publishing calendar. This year’s winners will be named on Thursday 23 September in Auckland, where the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book sponsored by Nielsen Book will also be revealed. Plus, attendees will be able to vote for the Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand People’s Choice Award.The following day, the industry’s design talent will gather for the PANZ Book Design Workshop, an opportunity to network with peers, dissect the previous evening’s awards ceremony and engage in fascinating panel discussions led by leading book designers.

The 2021 PANZ Book Design Awards Finalists are:

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE NEW ZEALAND AWARD FOR BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK
Billy Apple®: Life/Work by Christina Barton (Auckland University Press) Designed by Arch MacDonnell and Alexandra Turner, Inhouse Design
DOT by Kieran E. Scott (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Katrina Duncan, Kieran E. Scott and Tam West
Dwelling in the Margins: Art Publishing in Aotearoa edited by Katie Kerr (GLORIA Books) Designed by Katie Kerr
Endless Sea: Stories told through the taonga of the New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui te Ananui a Tangaroa by Frances Walsh and Jane Ussher (Massey University Press) Designed by Alan Deare and Dave McDonald, Area Design
It does no harm to wonder/the body of the work by Richard Reddaway (Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History) Designed by Jo Bailey, Anna Brown, Sarah Hall, and Richard Reddaway
Karl Maughan edited by Hannah Valentine and Gabriella Stead (Auckland University Press) Designed by Hannah Valentine, Gow Langsford Gallery
Lockdown: Tales from Aotearoa edited by Sarah Pepperle (Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū) Designed by Aaron Beehre
Nature – Stilled by Jane Ussher (Te Papa Press) Designed by Arch MacDonnell, Alistair McCready,
Dean Foster, Jane MacDonnell, Inhouse Design
Somewhere Else by Lucinda Birch (Lost in a Fog) Designed by Lily Paris West and Lucinda Birch

UPSTART PRESS AWARD FOR BEST NON-ILLUSTRATED BOOK

AUP New Poets 6 by Ben Kemp, Vanessa Crofsky and Chris Stewart and edited by Anna Jackson (Auckland University Press) Designed by Greg Simpson

The Mirror Steamed Over: Love and Pop in London, 1962 by Anthony Byrt (Auckland University Press) Designed by Kalee Jackson, Studio Kalee Jackson

Rock College: An unofficial history of Mount Eden Prison by Mark Derby (Massey University Press) Designed by Megan van Staden

This Pākehā Life: An Unsettled Memoir by Alison Jones (Bridget Williams Books) Designed by Jo Bailey, Ngā Pae Māhutonga / Wellington School of Design, Massey University

Towards Compostela: Walking the Camino de Santiago by Catharina van Bohemen (The Cuba Press) Designed by Sarah Bolland, The Cuba Press

You Have a Lot to Lose: A Memoir, 1956–1986 by C. K. Stead (Auckland University Press) Designed by Carolyn Lewis

SCHOLASTIC NEW ZEALAND AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK

Hare & Ruru: A Quiet Moment by Laura Shallcrass (Beatnik Publishing) Designed by Laura Shallcrass

I Am the Universe by Vasanti Unka (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Vasanti Unka

The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King (Gecko Press) Designed by Jonathan King

Mihi by Gavin Bishop (Gecko Press) Designed by Vida Kelly, Vida and Luke Kelly Design

Mophead Tu: The Queen’s Poem by Selina Tusitala Marsh (Auckland University Press) Designed by Vida Kelly, Vida and Luke Kelly Design

My Little Book of Bugs|Taku Pukapuka Iti Mō Ngā Pepeke (Te Papa Press) Designed by Catherine Adam, Wonderbird Design Studio

What Adults Don’t Know About Art & What Adults Don’t Know About Architecture by The School of Life (The School of Life) Designed by Katie Kerr

EDIFY AWARD FOR BEST EDUCATION BOOK OR SERIES – PRIMARY

Kuwi & Friends Māori Picture Dictionary (He Papakupu Whakahua) by Kat Quin & translator whakamāori Pānia Papa (Illustrated Publishing) Designed by Kat Quin and Chelsea McKirdy

Te Turi o Hinengawari by Tawhiri Morehu (Huia Publishers in collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara) Designed by Christine Ling and Te Kani Price, Huia Publisher

Toitoi Issues 20 & 21 by various (Toitoi Media Ltd) Designed by Vicki Birks, Toitoi Media

EDIFY AWARD FOR BEST EDUCATION BOOK OR SERIES – SECONDARY/TERTIARY
Level 2 Agribusiness Learning Workbook by Melanie Simmons and Kerry Allen (ESA Publications (NZ)Ltd) Designed by Barnaby McBryde and Terry Bunn

Level 2 Chemistry Study Guide by Suzanne Boniface (ESA Publications (NZ) Ltd) Designed by Barnaby McBryde, Justy Riggs-Panther and Terry Bunn

Māori Made Easy series of workbooks by Scotty Morrison (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Sarah Healey and Shaun Jury, Area Design

Māori Made Fun by Scotty and Stacey Morrison (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Dylan Matthews and Katrina Duncan with illustrations by Alice Duncan-Gardiner

Te Uruuru Whenua o Ngātoroirangi by Chris Winitana (Huia Publishers in close collaboration with Ahorangi Vision Trust) Designed by Christine Ling and Te Kani Price, Huia Publishers

1010 PRINTING AWARD FOR BEST COOKBOOK
Egg and Spoon – An Illustrated Cookbook by Alexandra Tylee & Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press) Designed by Vida Kelly, Vida and Luke Kelly Design

Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine by Monique Fiso (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Cat Taylor and Rachel Clark
Supergood by Chelsea Winter (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Helen GilliganReid and Cat Taylor

ALLEN & UNWIN AWARD FOR BEST COMMERCIAL BOOK FOR ADULTS
Bella by Annabel Langbein (Allen & Unwin) Designed by Kate Barraclough, Kate Frances Design

Husna’s Story: My wife, the Christchurch massacre & my journey to forgiveness by Farid Ahmed (Allen & Unwin) Designed by Kate Barraclough, Kate Frances Design

Wild Kinship: Conversations with Conscious Entrepreneurs by Monique Hemmingson (Beatnik Publishing) Designed by Sally Greer

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS AWARD FOR BEST COVER
Agency of Hope: The story of the Auckland City Mission 1920–2020 by Peter Lineham (Massey University Press) Cover designed by Tim Denee

Down South: In Search of the Great Southern Land by Bruce Ansley (HarperCollins NZ) Cover designed by Julia Murray

Head Girl by Freya Daly Sadgrove (Victoria University Press) Cover designed by Callum Devlin

The Liminal Space by Jacquie McRae (Huia Publishers) Cover designed by Christine Ling, Huia Publishers

The New New Zealand: Facing demographic disruption by Paul Spoonley (Massey University Press) Cover designed by Gideon Keith, Seven

The Swimmers by Chloe Lane (Victoria University Press) Cover designed by Fergus Barrowman

PANZ AWARD FOR BEST TYPOGRAPHY
AUP New Poets 6 by Ben Kemp, Vanessa Crofsky and Chris Stewart and edited by Anna Jackson (Auckland University Press) Designed by Greg Simpson

Billy Apple®: Life/Work by Christina Barton (Auckland University Press) Designed by Arch MacDonnell and Alexandra Turner, Inhouse Design

DOT by Kieran E. Scott (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Katrina Duncan, Kieran E. Scott and Tam West

I Am the Universe by Vasanti Unka (Penguin Random House New Zealand) Designed by Vasanti UnkaIt does no harm to wonder / the body of the work by Richard Reddaway (Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art & History) Designed by Jo Bailey, Anna Brown, Sarah Hall and Richard Reddaway

Lockdown: Tales from Aotearoa Edited by Sarah Pepperle (Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū) Designed by Aaron Beehre

You Have a Lot to Lose: A Memoir, 1956–1986 by C. K. Stead (Auckland University Press) Designed by Carolyn Lewis

HACHETTE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND EMERGING DESIGNER AWARD
Camilla Lau
• Goddess Muscle by Karlo Mila (Huia Publishers)
• The Pōrangi Boy by Shilo Kino (Huia Publishers)
Alexandra Turner
• Billy Apple®: Life/Work by Christina Barton (Auckland University Press)
• Gretchen Albrecht: After Goya edited by Kimberly Davis (Michael Lett Publishing)
• Living History: The Landing and Britomart by Jeremy Hansen (Cooper and Company)

For more information please visit https://www.bookdesignawards.co.nz/

The judges for the 2021 PANZ Book Design Awards are Simon Waterfield, Senior Designer at Lift Education (convenor); Fay McAlpine, graphic designer and Lecturer at Massey University College of Creative Arts, Toi Rauwhārangi; James Goggin, graphic designer and founder of graphic design Practice; and Ant Sang, award-winning graphic novelist and illustrator.

Simon Waterfield (convenor) is a designer at Lift Education, with expertise in educational and literacy design and children’s publishing. He works on a range of material, including the School Journal and Connected. These series allow him to collaborate with an expansive range of writers, illustrators, and photographers. Simon holds a Bachelor of Design from Wellington Polytechnic/Victoria University and has previously worked at Wellington Media Collective, Base2, and Learning Media. Simon has been previously shortlisted for the PANZ Book Design Awards, and has chaired sessions with children’s book creators Oliver Jeffers and Leo Timmers. He has judged The Arts Foundation’s Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award twice (2015 and 2017). Simon is deeply passionate about comics, children’s publishing, and the use of design to explain the world to young, curious minds.

Fay McAlpine is a graphic designer and educator with a passion for typography. She is a coordinator and lecturer for typographic papers in the design programme at Massey University College of Creative Arts, Toi Rauwhārangi. Her subjects range from fundamental principles to typography for information, editorial design, and advanced interpretative typography. Her students have won many awards. She is an active member of the International Society of Typographic Designers and an assessor for the South Pacific student membership assessment. She has been a judge for the New Zealand Best Awards.

James Goggin is a Tāmaki Makaurau and Providence, Rhode Island-based British and/or Australian creative director, graphic designer, and teacher from London via Sydney, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Arnhem, and Chicago. He founded a design practice named Practise with partner Shan James in London upon graduation from the Royal College of Art in 1999 working on architectural, civic, cultural, and publishing projects in Europe, Asia, Australasia, and North America. Until recently serving as Associate Professor, James is now a thesis critic at Rhode Island School of Design and previously taught at Werkplaats Typografie in the Netherlands and at École cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ÉCAL) in Switzerland. Alongside Practise, James has consulted for Tate Modern and Tate Britain, worked as Art Director of British music magazine The Wire, and as Director of Design and Publishing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. He designs typefaces for various projects and for Swiss foundry Lineto, and regularly writes, lectures, and exhibits internationally. James sits on the editorial board of architecture magazine Flat Out, was inducted as a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale in 2010, and has works included in the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Chicago Design Archive.

Ant Sang is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Auckland. He is the author of graphic novels The Dharma Punks, Shaolin Burning, and co-author of Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas. His graphic novels have been published in the US, UK, Canada, France, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand; his work has been awarded at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, Museums Australia Publication Design Awards, and selected for the White Ravens Catalogue. He has produced comics and illustrations for anthologies, children’s books and educational publications. He has worked in film and television as head designer on the animated television show bro’Town, and
produced artwork for the feature documentary Notes to Eternity. He has appeared at writers and comics festivals in Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Bali, Toronto and New Zealand. He has taught comics at MIT, and currently teaches visual storytelling at Unitec.

PANZ employs a strict conflict of interest policy and no judge is permitted to have their book design work entered into the awards. Where a judge has a perceived conflict of interest with a book, publisher or designer they will recuse themselves from judging the relevant category. This process is closely monitored by PANZ.