News + Events

Introducing the ABDA committee for 2018/19

The 2018 Annual General Meeting of Australian Book Designers Association Inc. was held on Monday 27 August.

The following ABDA members were elected to serve on the committee for the next 12 months:

President Mark Campbell

Vice President Alissa Dinallo

Secretary Regine Abos

Treasurer Hazel Lam

Committee Members

The Annual Report of the Association, as presented at the AGM, is now available to download (PDF).

If you have any questions about the committee, the annual report or anything else, please get in touch via info@abda.com.au.

Passion Pictures launch Illustration Division

Introducing a new agency for illustrators and creative collaborations for book cover and other creative projects. Passion Pictures have been an award-winning production company for over thirty years and have recently launched their illustration division. Representing artists for all manner of projects from print, posters, books, and editorial to murals, character design and animation. For more information email
Katie Goodwin kateg@passion-pictures.com at Passion Pictures.

Featured iilustration Floating (2017) by @tjoffkoongstudios

Cover Up at Melbourne Art Book Fair

The Australian Book Designers Association joins forces with Melbourne Art Book Fair to present Cover Up!

What makes a great book cover, who decides and how do they know?! In this panel discussion presented by Australian Book Designers Association, hear from designers, publishers and artists who have created award-winning covers to discuss the peculiar mix of art, science and instinct that goes into designing a book cover.

This is a free ticketed event, please book your ticket below.

Moderator

W. H. Chong is the design director at Text Publishing and designed their logo and many of their books. In 2013 Chong was inducted into the Australian Book Design Hall of Fame. He is a founding member of ABDA, serving as Secretary from 2014 to 2016.

The Panel

Evi O. is a designer, art director and artist. She has worked in publishing for a decade, most notably creating award-winning illustrated books in the fields of food, design, interiors, architecture, art, garden and wellness. She practices design and art from her Marrickville studio in Sydney.

Sam Cooney runs the new-ish independent small press Brow Books, and is publisher of quarterly literary magazine He is publisher-in-residence at RMIT, teaches sessionally at universities, and is a freelance writer and literary critic. He has judged literary prizes, sits on a couple of advisory boards, chairs events, and in 2017 took part in the Australia Council’s ‘Future Leaders’ professional development program. Earlier this year he took part in an Australian publishing delegation tour of India.

Mary Callahan has been designing books for more than 25 years. Her passion for books has been recognised by the many awards her book designs have received. She considers herself lucky to have worked on books by many of Australia’s notable writers

Details

Date: Sunday 18 March

Time: 11am–12pm

Place: Clemenger BBDO Auditorium, NGV International

Map

Tara Books : Concept, Art and Design — a presentation in Sydney

UTS School of Design in collaboration with the Australian Book Designers Association presents Tara Books: Concept Art and Design.

Based in Chennai, India, Tara is a collective of writers, designers and bookmakers with an inclusive and collaborative approach to publishing illustrated books. Tara Books are carefully screen-printed by hand and use unconventional binding techniques push “the boundaries of the book form in an age that is busy writing its obituary”.

In this presentation, two of Tara’s designers will showcase a range of their award-winning books, discuss the role of design in their publishing process, and explain the ways Tara collaborates with indigenous artists as well as print and production artisans.

An event not to be missed!

Details

When: Wednesday 7 March
Time: 1pm
Where: UTS School of Design
Address: Room 109, Level 6, UTS School of Design
702 Harris St, Ultimo Sydney
Map

Places are limited for this event.
To RSVP please email Zoe Sadokierski on zoe.sadokierski@uts.edu.au

A Conversation with Designers from Tara Books India

Scribble Kids’ Books and the Australian Book Designers Association invites members and friends to an evening of conversation with visiting designers from independent publishing house Tara Books from Chennai, India. Well known for pushing the boundaries of the book form, Tara Books is a collective of writers, designers, and bookmakers specialised in visual publishing. Designers Dhwani and Ragini will give insight into Tara’s philosophy and approach of inclusive and collaborative publishing, dwelling on the role of design in the process. They will also explore the idea of the designer as author, bringing together all the elements that go into a book to create new meaning.

The event will include presentations by Tara Books designers Dhwani and Ragini, titles by Tara Books will also be on sale.

 

 

Details

When: Tuesday 13 March
Time: 6.30pm
Where: Scribe Publications/Scribble Kids’ Books
Address: 18-20 Edward Street, Brunswick VIC 3056
Map

Places are limited for this event.
To RSVP please email Stephanie on info@scribblekidsbooks.com.au

End of Year Drinks

Join the Australian Book Designers Association’s committee, members and friends to celebrate the organisation’s fourth year. Events will be held on Thursday 7 December in both Sydney and Melbourne. Everyone is welcome, with drinks at bar prices and snacks provided. Please RSVP to info@abda.com.au

Sydney
Date: Thursday 7 December 2017
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Venue: The Clock Hotel (upstairs), 470 Crown St, Surry Hills
Map
Melbourne
Date: Thursday 7 December 2017
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Venue: Long Play, 318 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy
Map

Details

Pop-up Book Mechanics Workshop Melbourne

The Australian Book Designers and Paperazzi Design Studio presents
Pop-up Book Mechanics Workshop in Melbourne

Remember how wonderful it was to receive pop-up books and cards as a kid? Well we’re bringing 3D back in this four hour workshop that will take your book making to another dimension.

In this class you will design your own paper folds and learn different techniques to create your own pop-up book. You’ll learn the different technical approaches to paper cutting and the mechanical elements that transform a page from flat to 3D.

We’ll finish with binding the pages together to create a wonderful and complete pop-up book, and you’ll leave with the skills and inspiration for future projects.

All materials are included in the price, just bring yourself along!

Details

Date: 10am – 2pm, Sunday 11 February 2018

Venue: Kathleen Symes Library Art Room
251 Faraday St, Carlton VIC 3053

Cost: ABDA Members: $55/Non Members $65

Map

Email Jen on info@abda.com.au to secure your place.

Spaces are limited so book early!

 

Pop-up Book Mechanics Workshop Sydney

The Australian Book Designers and Paperazzi Design Studio presents
Pop-up Book Mechanics Workshop in Sydney.

Remember how wonderful it was to receive pop-up books and cards as a kid? Well we’re bringing 3D back in this four hour workshop that will take your book making to another dimension.

In this class you will design your own paper folds and learn different techniques to create your own pop-up book. You’ll learn the different technical approaches to paper cutting and the mechanical elements that transform a page from flat to 3D.

We’ll finish with binding the pages together to create a wonderful and complete pop-up book, and you’ll leave with the skills and inspiration for future projects.

All materials are included in the price, just bring yourself along!

Details

Date: 10am – 2pm, Sunday 12 November 2017

Venue: Studio 735, Level 7

University Technology Sydney DAB Building

702 -705 Harris Street Ultimo, 2007

Map

Cost: ABDA Members: $55/Non Members $65

Email Jen on info@abda.com.au to secure your place.

Spaces are limited so book early!

 

Call-out to emerging Graphic Designers for Book Machine II in Sydney

BOOK MACHINE, an initiative of Onestar Press, Paris is returning to Artspace, Sydney for VOLUME 2017 | Another Art Book Fair!

BOOK MACHINE connects emerging graphic designers and public participants through the creation of one-off artist books. This is a unique opportunity to work with an esteemed international press to realise the key public program of VOLUME 2017 | Another Art Book Fair, which will bring together over 70 national and international exhibitors over a week in October. We are seeking creative and friendly volunteers who enjoy working collaboratively to realise the design and production of artist books. Twenty designers are required for each of the 3.5 hour BOOK MACHINE sessions between Tuesday 10 and Sunday 15 October — you may work at as many or as few sessions as you’d like.

You’ll be paired with a public participant for each session. Participants will arrive prepared with images and text which you’ll help them shape into a book using a pre-designed 100–page book template. Designers will be offered a complimentary copy of each collaborative book — which you’ll receive the day after each session! That means you could add as many as nine books to your personal collection and portfolio.

More information here

Conversations from the Vault: William Morris and the legacy of a small press

The Australian Book Designers Association in partnership with the State Library of New South Wales invite ABDA members and friends in Sydney to a presentation of exquisite rare books from the Library’s William Morris Kelmscott Press collection. The event will include talks on designing and publishing artisan books from a selection of contempoaray small presses.

When: Saturday 14th October 2pm – 4pm

Cost: ABDA Members $15 & General Admission: $20

Venue: The State Library of New South Wales, Macquarie Street

Gallery Room, Ground Floor at 1.45pm for a 2pm start.

Places are strictly limited—bookings are essential.

Book your ticket here to secure your place