About Us
Mission Statement
ABDA exists to support Australian book designers – to promote their work to, and connect with, the broader publishing community. In addition, we aim to discover and foster emerging talent. Through our public talks and workshops, digital showcases and the national annual Book Design Awards, ABDA provides a dynamic network for industry professionals.
This website, launched in October 2015, provides an online hub for the community. Offering news, forums, educational events and a searchable archive of each year’s award categories, it is an invaluable resource for present and future Australian designers.
ABDA exists to serve its members. We encourage feedback and suggestions, please email us with ideas and feedback about events, blog posts or anything else you’d like to see more or less of.
Committee Members
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Mary Callahan
PresidentMary Callahan Design
Mary has been designing books for more than 20 years. Her passion for this pursuit has resulted in a high profile throughout the publishing industry and is recognized by the many awards her book designs have received. Since expanding her…
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Mietta Yans
Vice PresidentDesigner, HarperCollins ANZ
Mietta is a Melbourne based book designer, currently working within the Harper by Design imprint, in the HarperCollins Design Studio. With an array of print experience behind her – magazine, children’s publishing and even a stint in advertising – she…
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Nada Backovic
TreasurerNada Backovic Designs
Nada Backovic is an award-winning book designer, graphic designer and illustrator with 20 years experience working with major publishers in Australia and UK.
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Trisha Garner
SecretaryBook Designer, Designpatsy
Trisha Garner has been a book designer for nearly two decades. She designs predominantly non-fiction and illustrated books, including cookbooks and memoirs, for a wide range of publishers from her studio in Collingwood, Melbourne. Trisha began her career as a…
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Megan Ellis
Committee MemberFreelance typesetter and pre-press expert
Megan is a typesetter and pre-press operator based in Collingwood, Melbourne. She’s an InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator pro and wears many hats along the publishing process, including image work and preparing and outputting files for print, and has an extensive…
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Jenny Grigg
Committee MemberDesigner, Industry Fellow
Jenny Grigg is an award winning Australian graphic designer who has worked in Sydney, London, Copenhagen and Melbourne. She has a PhD from RMIT University.
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Klarissa Pfisterer
Committee MemberDesigner
With a background in design and branding in Australia and the UK, Klarissa launched Pfisterer + Freeman in 2000, specialising in book projects for publishers big and small and for independent authors with an idea or story to share. She…
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Mika Tabata
Committee MemberBook Designer
Mika is a book designer who has worked in-house at Walker Books Australia and is now part-time Production Designer at Allen & Unwin. She also freelances and works across a wide range of publishers.
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Liz Seymour
Seymour Designs
Liz Seymour is a Sydney-based freelance book designer with over 20 years experience. She designs across a diverse range of genres, such as children’s fiction, illustrated non-fiction, lifestyle and corporate books.
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