penguin book winners 2018

Fruzsina Czech, Ulster University, 1st Place 

Explanation of Work

Noughts & Crosses (Malorie Blackman) provides an experience through the two main characters, Sephy and Callum. The novel tells us about their relationship, and how it grows, it is so personal, I felt it was important to include them as key elements in my design.

Monochrome colour was chosen to show the contrasted personalities, alongside adding sophistication to the look. Introducing red as an accent was an afterthought, taking Anna Bilson’s advice on board.

The simple aesthetic, inspired by the cover of Varoommagazine (6/2/18), dictated to not break the clean look, so I hand-lettered the title and blurb within the characters.

Judges’ Comments

‘I loved this design which was incredibly eye-catching and simple but not simplistic’ Malorie Blackman

‘Fruzsina’s cover really stood out for me. I loved the mixture of type and image and the overall simplicity. I loved it!’ Tom Sanderson

‘Our standout winner – instantly iconic, sassy and cool’ Anna Billson – Art Director, Penguin Random House UK Children’s

Lucy Scholes, Falmouth University, 2nd Place

The idea was inspired by the quote: ‘All our lives criss-crossing but never really touching. A world full of strangers living with all that fear.’ The concept visualizes how throughout the narrative the two main protagonists’ lives become increasingly tangled and intertwined. The strips weave the internal dialogue of the two characters, using black strips to represent Sephy and white strips for Callum. The concept shows the gradual forming of a Nought and a Cross’s viewpoint as it is shaped by their experiences, showing often differing views of the same event.

Judges’ Comments

‘A unique design where the designer brought real imagination and originality to the brief’ Malorie Blackman

‘The detail and complexity of this design are amazing. I would buy this book with this cover straight away. A very close call!’ Tom Sanderson

‘A stunning design – strikingly beautiful and very original’ Anna Billson – Art Director, Penguin Random House UK Children’s

Heléna Doré, Plymouth College of Art, 3rd Place

Explanation of Work

My inspiration for my design was to create something that holds deep symbolic meaning to the story. Noughts & Crosses focuses on fighting against society, and so I chose to represent this through a defaced school-book. Wrecking a piece of school property, although small, is an act of rebellion against authority.

Further, as Heathcroft High School plays a pivotal role in the narrative, I wanted to make the book appear like it could exist within the story, created by the characters themselves. The rose petal, fingerprints, wine stains, tear drops, wire and secret Liberation Militia symbol not only add to this aesthetic, but also subtly make reference to the plot and emotions covered by the author.

Judges’ Comments

‘The designer had really thought about the themes of the book and depicted those themes on both the front and back covers’ Malorie Blackman

‘Beautiful cover, beautifully executed – lovely hand-lettering’ Tom Sanderson

‘Deceptively simple, cleverly connecting the multiple elements of the story’ Anna Billson – Art Director, Penguin Random House UK Children’s