15 November 2013

The Purple Book Paints The Right Picture

The British Book Design and Production Awards were held on 4th November 2013 at a glamorous event in central London at The Grange St Pauls Hotel. The speaker was journalist, author, comedian and producer; Will Gompertz, who kept the audience entertained throughout the night.

The evening celebrated and illustrated everything that is best in British book design, with the Awards seen as a flagship event in the literary calendar.  A record number of books were entered this year, making the judge's task extremely difficult.

The outright winner of the awards was Lawrence King Publishing who came out top in three categories including the Book of the Year with The Purple Book. The judges all commended the book on its wide appeal, stating that the book set new heights in terms of quality and presentation. The judges all agreed that the "combination of materials, attention to finish, the production, concept and design", all contributed to The Purple Book being a clear front runner.

The slogan of the 2013 awards was "always judge a book by its cover", making the award for Best Jacket/Cover Design one of the most anticipated of the evening. The judges were extremely impressed with the category winner, Skinny Weeks and Weekend Feasts from Quadrille Publishing. They praised the winner, stating "the evocative imagery, quirky and striking cover successfully engages the reader".

The Best British Book went to, From the Land Comes the Cloth from Berforts Butler Tanner & Dennis. The judges felt the ''inspired association of thoughtfully curated imagery, enhanced by effective spacing, the judicious use of text and high quality production have all proved instrumental in evoking the seamless bond between the natural beauty of the Hebridean landscape and the weavers' craft it inspires''.

The quality of the awards this year was exemplary and all involved were extremely impressed with the fantastic amount of entries and the brilliant production standards involved. The awards ceremony itself was an extremely memorable evening, with the creativity and dedication of the entrants being celebrated and awarded.

Congratulations to all the winners on their success.

British Book Design and Production Award Winners 2013

Brand / Series Identity                                                        

Hello Baby Series , Priddy Books

Limited Edition and Fine Binding                                                                                          

David Bowie Is Inside, V&A Publishing

Digitally Printed Books                                                                                           

St.Saviours House , F S Moore

Best Use of Cross Media                                                    

iSolar System, Carlton Publishing Group

Exhibition Catalogues                                                         

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales , National Galleries of Scotland

Photographic Books, Art / Architecture Monographs    

Yarrow Fine Art, Connekt Colour      

Trade Illustrated                                                                  

The Purple Book , Laurence King Publishing

Lifestyle Illustrated                                                             

Vintage Menswear, Laurence King Publishing

Literature                                                                              

26 Treasures, Unbound

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education                    

Plays to Read, Pearson

Scholarly, Academic and Reference Books                     

The Plant Hunters , Kew Publishing

Children's Trade                                                                  

Get into Art: Animals, Pan Macmillan

Best Jacket / Cover Design                                    

Skinny Weeks & Weekend Feasts, Quadrille Publishing

Best Student Book                                      

Seven Samurai, Jake Gunn, University of the West of England

Best British Book                                                    

From the Land Comes the Cloth, Berforts Butler Tanner & Dennis

Book of the Year

The Purple Book, Laurence King Publishing

For more information please contact [email protected]