Penguin Books Showcases Winning Designs For Its 2024 Book Cover Awards

Image via Penguin Books

Penguin Books, a venerable name in the literary world, has made the rare move of judging books by their covers. The publishing house has revealed the winners of its 2024 Cover Design Award, where participants were tasked with reimagining three iconic titles: City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Take a look at the graphical page-turners below.

Adult Fiction

Artwork by Cadi Rhind. Image via Penguin Books

Cadi Rhind claimed the top spot with her sleek, retro-inspired design for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six. A nod to the ’70s rock aesthetic, Rhind’s typography intertwines nostalgia with contemporary flair.

“Growing up, car journeys were soundtracked by my father’s love for 1970s Californian music. This influenced my love for that era and its creative world of album artworks and gig posters,” explains the artist. “This, paired with my love for vintage typography and design are my inspirations. The magic in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book is in how it sparked the same electric feel I had in discovering my musical influences of this era.”

Children

Artwork by Charlotte Jennings. Image via Penguin Books

Charlotte Jennings emerged as the winner for her enchanting redesign of City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak. Balancing color, magic, secrets, and colonial history, Jennings weaves a visual tapestry that resonates with young readers.

“I focused on using color and shape language to convey the essence of [the protagonist] Chompa’s journey from beginning to end, using a spiral composition to guide the viewer’s eye around the cover,” Pathak shares. “I used orange hues to depict the warmth and familiarity of India along with its connection to Chompa’s fiery magic. All is silhouetted by the complementary blue color of the sea and the date palm, pointing directly at the mysterious, cooler-toned city of London. At the center of it all is Chompa, wrapped up in this chaotic adventure full of intrigue and magic.”

Adult Non-Fiction

Artwork by George Griffiths. Image via Penguin Books 

George Griffiths claimed the top honor for his thought-provoking handmade cover of Atomic Habits by James Clear, comprising a collage that envisions the stacking of small habits but integral habits.

“Atomic Habits focuses on the combination of small decisions and behaviors that combine to create a better life,” Griffiths points out. “My book concept is based upon this combination of small, different habits, building and layering together to have a larger effect than they would on their own. I created my design by taking small rips of cardboard, paper and other physical materials, and piecing them together to form the words ‘Atomic Habits’—just as small habits piece together to transform your life.

[via Creative Boom and Creative Bloq, images via Penguin Books]