Beautiful books are in the spotlight with the announcement of the finalists for the 2022 PANZ Book Design Awards.

The Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) established the awards to promote excellence in, and provide recognition for, the best book design in New Zealand, a task that becomes more challenging for the judging panel every year as the standard of entries grows ever higher.

A team of judges led by experienced bookseller Jenna Todd poured over more than 135 submissions. Jenna says picking the standouts from such a strong field came down to the details, whether it was the legibility of the typography, formatting, or the book’s usability in terms of being easy to hold and read.

“Overall, the books that rose to the occasion demonstrated considerate, sophisticated design choices. Gold, earthy greens, warm whites and blacks were a common feature,” says Jenna. “We saw some brave innovations as well as books that were brave in their restraint.”

Jenna’s fellow judges are editorial designer and writer Jenny Nicholls, Johnson Witehira, an artist, designer and academic of Tamahaki and Ngāi Tū-te-auru descent, and William Chen who was founding art director at Metro magazine.

The judges all agreed the Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book was a particularly delightful category to examine, finding Aotearoa’s young readers are in very safe hands.

While there are established names aplenty on the shortlist, fresh design talent is also highlighted. Both finalists for the Hachette Aotearoa NZ 2022 Emerging Designer are from HUIA Publishers, speaking to the Māori-owned independent publisher’s commitment to nurturing innovative design talent.

The shortlist also shows the breadth and depth of creativity in the New Zealand publishing industry. There are books from publishers right across the motu, spanning university presses, independent publishers, multi-nationals and self-publishers.

The judges now face the difficult task of narrowing down the winners of the 10 categories and selecting the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book sponsored by Nielsen Book. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in Auckland on 22 September where attendees will be able to vote for the Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand People’s Choice Award.

The industry’s design talent will assemble the next day for the PANZ Book Design Workshop which provides the opportunity to dissect the awards, enjoy panel sessions led by leading book designers and network with peers. 

The 2022 PANZ Book Design Awards Finalists are:

Penguin Random House New Zealand Award for Best Illustrated Book

• Bill Hammond: Across the Evening Sky by Peter Vangioni with Tony de Lautour, Rachael King, Nic Low, Paul Scofield and Ariana Tikao (Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū). Designed by Aaron Beehre
• Conversātiō — In the company of bees by Anne Noble with Zara Stanhope and Anna Brown (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Anna Brown & Matt Law.  Interior designed by Anna Brown
• He Ringatoi O Ngā Tūpuna by Hilary and John Mitchell (Potton & Burton). Designed by Floor van Lierop, This is Them
• Shifting Grounds: Deep Histories of Tāmaki Makaurau by Lucy Mackintosh (Bridget Williams Books). Cover designed by Keely O'Shannessy. Interior designed by Keely O'Shannessy & Katrina Duncan

Upstart Press Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book

• A Clear Dawn: New Asian Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand edited by Paula Morris and Alison Wong (Auckland University Press). Cover designed by Keely O'Shannessy. Interior designed by Keely O'Shannessy with typesetting by Tina Delceg
• Across the Pass: A collection of New Zealand tramping writing selected by Shaun Barnett (Otago University Press). Designed by Fiona Moffat. 
• Rita Angus: An Artist's Life edited by Jill Trevelyan (Te Papa Press). Designed by Kate Barraclough, Kate Frances Design
• Tree Sense: Ways of thinking about trees edited by Susette Goldsmith (Massey University Press). Designed by Megan van Staden

Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book 

• Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes by Gavin Bishop (Penguin Random House NZ). Designed by Vida & Luke Kelly, Vida & Luke Kelly Design
• Koro by Gavin Bishop (Gecko Press). Designed by Vida Kelly, Vida & Luke Kelly Design
• Muki and Pickles by Ross Murray (Beatnik). Designed by Ross Murray
• My Cat Can See Ghosts by Emily Joe (Beatnik). Designed by Emily Joe
• The Tiny Woman's Coat by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press). Designed by Vida Kelly, Vida & Luke Kelly Design

Lift Education Award for Best Education Book or Series — Primary

• Inside New Zealand Wildlife by Dave Gunson (Bateman Books). Cover design by Dave Gunson & Alice Bell. Interior designed by Alice Bell
• Jillion 2 by New Zealand’s Young Writers and Artists (Toitoi Media Ltd). Cover designed by Vicki Birks. Interior designed by Kelvin Soh & Sam Wieck, DDMMYY
• Why is That Spider Dancing? The Amazing Arachnids of Aotearoa by Simon Pollard and Phil Sirvid (Te Papa Press). Designed by Kate Barraclough, Kate Frances Design

Lift Education Award for Best Education Book or Series — Secondary/Tertiary

• Social Policy Practice and Processes in Aotearoa New Zealand edited by Graham Hassall and Girol Karacaoglu (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Tim Denee. Interior designed by Megan van Staden
• Tūtira Mai: Making change in Aotearoa New Zealand edited by David Belgrave and Giles Dodson (Massey University Press). Designed by Kate Barraclough, Kate Frances Design

1010 Printing Award for Best Cookbook

• Homecooked: Seasonal recipes for every day by Lucy Corry (Penguin Random House NZ). 
  Cover designed by Cat Taylor with original cover art by Evie Kemp. Interior designed by Cat Taylor
• Saffron Swirls & Cardamom Dust by Ashia Ismael-Singer (Bateman Books). Designed by Floor van Lierop, This is Them
• Simply Food by Eleanor Ozich (Penguin Random House NZ). Designed by Katrina Duncan

Allen & Unwin Award for Best Commercial Book for Adults

• Homegrown Happiness: A Kiwi Guide to Living Off the Suburban Land by Elien Lewis. Designed by Floor van Lierop, This is Them
• How to Survive the Modern World by Alain de Botton / The School of Life (The School of Life). Designed by Katie Kerr, Studio Katie Kerr
• Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka (HUIA Publishers). Designed by Te Kani Price and Camilla Lau
• NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women by Qiane Matata-Sipu (QIANE+co). Designed by Linda Va'aelua, Fifty5 Creative. Creative Director Qiane Matata-Sipu, Quiane + co
• Times Like These by Michelle Langstone (Allen & Unwin). Designed by Megan van Staden

HarperCollins Publishers Award for Best Cover

• Conversātiō — In the company of bees by Anne Noble with Zara Stanhope and Anna Brown (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Anna Brown & Matt Law. Interior designed by Anna Brown
• Kelcy Taratoa: Who Am I, Episode 001 by Warren Feeney, Te Reo translation by Heni Jacob (Quentin Wilson Publishing). Cover designed by Alan Deare, Area Design. Interior designed by Alan Deare & Dave McDonald, Area Design
• Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka (HUIA Publishers). Designed by Te Kani Price & Camilla Lau
• The Mirror Book by Charlotte Grimshaw (Penguin Random House NZ). Designed by Katrina Duncan
• Rangikura by Tayi Tibble (Te Herenga Waka University Press). Designed by Xoë Hall

Te Herenga Waka University Press Award for Best Typography

• Across the Pass: A collection of New Zealand tramping writing selected by Shaun Barnett (Otago University Press). Designed by Fiona Moffat. 
• Bill Hammond: Across the Evening Sky by Peter Vangioni with Tony de Lautour, Rachael King, Nic Low, Paul Scofield and Ariana Tikao (Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū). Designed by Aaron Beehre
• He Ringatoi O Ngā Tūpuna by Hilary and John Mitchell (Potton & Burton). Designed by Floor van Lierop, This is Them
• Hei Taonga mā ngā Uri Whakatipu | Treasures for the Rising Generation by Wayne Ngata, Arapata Hakiwai, Anne Salmond, Conal McCarthy, Amiria Salmond, James Schuster, Billie Lythberg, John Maihi, Sandra Nepia, Te Wheturere Poope Gray, Te Aroha McDonnell, Natalie Robertson (Te Papa Press). Designed by Area Design
• My Cat Can See Ghosts by Emily Joe (Beatnik). Designed by Emily Joe

2022 Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand Emerging Designer Award Finalists

Christine Ling

• The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth / Mokopuna Matatini by Pania Tahau-Hodges (HUIA Publishers)
• Falling into Rarohenga by Steph Matuku (HUIA Publishers) 
• Stepping Up: COVID-19 Checkpoints and Rangatiratanga by Luke Fitzmaurice and Maria Bargh (HUIA Publishers)

Te Kani Price

• Mokopuna Matatini by Pania Tahau-Hodges (HUIA Publishers)
• Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka (HUIA Publishers)
• Butcherbird by Cassie Hart (HUIA Publishers)

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