Best Designed Commercial Fiction Cover

A ‘commercial fiction’ title is aimed at mass and targeted markets and includes genre fiction such as crime, romance, adventure, thriller, fantasy, science fiction, horror, comedy, etc. Books in this category are judged on the .. See More

A ‘commercial fiction’ title is aimed at mass and targeted markets and includes genre fiction such as crime, romance, adventure, thriller, fantasy, science fiction, horror, comedy, etc. Books in this category are judged on the cover alone.

Best Designed Literary Fiction/Poetry Cover

‘Literary fiction’ describes fictional works that hold literary merit of lasting value. A title is considered ‘literary’ when it is eligible for literary prizes, such as the Miles Franklin Award, Premiers’ Literary Prizes .. See More

‘Literary fiction’ describes fictional works that hold literary merit of lasting value. A title is considered ‘literary’ when it is eligible for literary prizes, such as the Miles Franklin Award, Premiers’ Literary Prizes and the Man Booker Prize. Poetry books should be entered in this category (regardless of whether they are fiction or non-fiction poetry). Books in this category are judged on the cover alone.

Best Designed Non-Fiction Cover

A non-fiction book judged on the cover alone. Illustrations and/or images must make up less than 10% of the total pages. (See ‘Fully Illustrated’ and ‘Non-Fiction Book’ for other categories of non‑fiction.)

Best Designed Series Cover

A series consists of at least two titles designed to be clearly related to each other and with at least one published in the competition year. The submitted works should be by the originating designer of the ‘series design’, i.e., not .. See More

A series consists of at least two titles designed to be clearly related to each other and with at least one published in the competition year. The submitted works should be by the originating designer of the ‘series design’, i.e., not by another designer using a predesigned template. Books in this category are judged on the cover alone. Books may only be entered in the series category once.

Best Designed Fully Illustrated Book under $75

A book with over 50% of its pages containing pictorial matter retailing at under RRP $75. Entrants must supply a minimum of four internal spreads for fully illustrated titles.

Best Designed Fully Illustrated Book over $75

A book with over 50% of its pages containing pictorial matter retailing at RRP $75 or above. Entrants must supply a minimum of four internal spreads for fully illustrated titles.

Best Designed Cookbook

A book of recipes or writing on food that includes recipes, which may or may not include illustrations.

Best Designed Educational Primary Secondary Book

An education textbook designed for primary or secondary students. To be considered a textbook the book must be aligned to an officially recognised Australian curriculum.

Best Designed Educational Tertiary Book

An education textbook designed for tertiary students. To be considered a textbook the book must be aligned to an officially recognised Australian curriculum

Best Designed Children’s Picture Book

A book for children aged up to 11 with 50% or more of pictorial matter. Designs must be original, not repurposed or part of an existing series style.

Best Designed Children’s Non-Fiction Book

A non-fiction book for children aged up to 11 with 50% or more of pictorial matter. Designs must be original, not repurposed or part of an existing series style.

Best Designed Junior Fiction Book

A fiction book for children aged 5 and over with a minimum of 50% illustrations.

Best Designed Children’s/Young Adult Series Cover

At least two titles aimed at readers up to age 18, designed as part of a related series, with at least one published in the competition year. The submitted works should be by the originating designer of the ‘series design’, i.e., .. See More

At least two titles aimed at readers up to age 18, designed as part of a related series, with at least one published in the competition year. The submitted works should be by the originating designer of the ‘series design’, i.e., not by another designer using a pre-designed template. Books may only be entered in the series category once. Books in this category are judged on the cover alone.

Best Designed Children's/Young Adult Cover

A book in any genre aimed at readers up to 18. Books in this category are judged on the cover alone.

Best Designed Small-run Book

This category is for indie, non-institutional book design projects with an emphasis on originality and experimentation. Books must be at least 24 pages long with a print run of more than 25 copies and fewer than 100. Artists’ books .. See More

This category is for indie, non-institutional book design projects with an emphasis on originality and experimentation. Books must be at least 24 pages long with a print run of more than 25 copies and fewer than 100. Artists’ books do not apply. This category is also open to students.

Deb Brash Emerging Designer of the Year

Each year ABDA acknowledges the work of a designer who is in the early stages of their career but with a bright future clearly ahead of them. To be considered for Emerging Designer of the Year the applicant must have no greater than .. See More

Each year ABDA acknowledges the work of a designer who is in the early stages of their career but with a bright future clearly ahead of them. To be considered for Emerging Designer of the Year the applicant must have no greater than five years’ experience working as a book designer on 31 December 2023. They must submit four titles individually, filling in all relevant details – even if they have uploaded these titles in other categories. The publication date of the books that you enter can be from any year across the span of your book design career (ie, 5 years or less). After applicants complete their nomination, they will be contacted and asked to provide a brief statement about their design philosophy. This award includes a $500 cash prize to put towards design education and professional development, to support the winning designer in their career. Applicants should fill out an entry form for each book submitted (four entries in total).

Best Designed Student Cover

This category judges the quality of a book cover’s design and is open to works of fiction or non-fiction. Journal and notebook designs do not apply.

Best Designed Student Book

This category judges the quality of a book design’s integration of cover and internal pages. Books must be at least 16 pages long and may be fiction or non-fiction written for any market. There are no format restrictions, however, .. See More

This category judges the quality of a book design’s integration of cover and internal pages. Books must be at least 16 pages long and may be fiction or non-fiction written for any market. There are no format restrictions, however, the design must be conceived for high volume production. Artists’ books do not apply. 

Best Designed Student Series

This category judges the quality of a design of a series for two or more covers for books of fiction or non-fiction. Journal and notebook designs do not apply.