Q & A with Duncan Blachford
Currently undertaking a Master of Communication Design at RMIT University, Duncan Blachford has over eight years experience in the book publishing industry. He’s worked at Black Inc. Books in Melbourne and Bloomsbury Publishing in London and is currently the publisher at Tempo Haus. Did you mean to end up as a book designer? What was your trajectory? […]
The Beauty of the Small Press
A post by ABDA Vice President Alissa Dinallo I have been a William Morris fan forever. Beyond the fact that we share the same birthday, his intricate wallpaper illustrations and illuminated manuscripts have never ceased to amaze me. They have been an inspiration for designers, artists and illustrators for centuries. However, I have recently developed […]
Hall of Fame – W.H. Chong
W.H. Chong was awarded the Joyce Thorpe Nicholson Design Hall of Fame Award in 2013. Below we revisit the interview published in the 2013 awards catalogue by Scribe art director Miriam Rosenbloom. Miriam Rosenbloom (MR): How did you find yourself designing book covers? W.H. Chong (WHC): It was thanks to Diana Gribble, who co-founded Text […]
Boaty McBoatface and marriage equality: more in common than you think
A post by ADBA president Mark Campbell By now most of us have received our marriage equality postal surveys and will be filling them out and returning them over the coming weeks. In a sobering way, it made me stop and think a lot about what the public reaction would be if it were about […]
The Art of Correspondence
Mary Callahan, the award-winning designer of ‘The Art of Reading’, shares the story of her design through correspondence with the book’s publisher. 16 October 2015, 11:58am Dearest M Brief as follows: Short synopsis In The Art of Reading each chapter explores a literary virtue – patience, curiosity, courage, pride, temperance, justice – reminding readers of […]
Q & A with Tess McCabe
As the designer and director of Creative Minds Publishing, Tess McCabe publishes books and resources for creative professionals and their businesses. Like the creative’s guide to copyright, ‘Owning It’ by Sharon Givoni, or the illuminating interviews in ‘Conversations With Creative Women’. She’s also one half of the podcast The New Normal, discussing kids, partnerships and creative work. Did […]
The Making of Magrit
A post by ABDA committee member Amy Daoud Winner of Best Designed Children’s Fiction Book and Designers’ Choice Children’s/Young Adult Cover of the Year at the 2017 Australian Book Design Awards, designer Amy Daoud shares the story behind the cover of Magrit. Nine-year-old Magrit has lived most of her life in an abandoned cemetery alongside her […]
Hall of Fame – Alec Bolton
A post by Michael Richards Before the formation of ABDA, the Australian Publishers Association was responsible for awarding the annual Book Design Awards. In 1995 the APA Hall of Fame Award was presented to Alec Bolton (1926–1996), publisher, designer, typesetter and printer. Alec worked as an editor with Angus and Robertson in Sydney and in London, with Ure […]
Staff Picks—Embiggen Books Favourite Book Cover Designs
The latest in a series of interviews where we ask staff at bookstores to tell us about their favourite book designs. This month we hear from Warren Bonett at Embiggen Books, 197-203 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Fiction This is arguably the most competitive visual real estate in publishing. Fiction cover design frequently depends on whether the […]
The Image Detective
It’s never been easier to find the perfect image or inspiration for your book design, but how do you go about tracking down the original artist in the age of Pinterest and Tumblr? We talk to freelance permissions editor Sarah Thomas about navigating copyright and her work in book publishing over the last twenty years. […]
Q & A with David Campbell
As Senior Designer at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) David Campbell is surrounded by inspiration. Before landing this coveted role he was a freelance designer for twelve years, working with numerous galleries and arts organisations including ACMI, Melbourne Fringe and Voiceworks magazine. Did you mean to end up as a book designer? What was […]
Typesetter/Designer: Black Inc. Books
Black Inc. is seeking a Typesetter/Designer to join their busy team. ABOUT THE ROLE: The role is based at Black Inc. in Carlton, Victoria and is a part-time position four days per week (30 hours per week). Reporting to the Head of Production, this role supports our editorial, production and marketing staff with typesetting and […]