GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 26, 2011 – Leading Christian publisher Zondervan and its creative partner Extra Credit Projects today announced they have received two 2011 creative and design awards: the Communication Arts Design Annual 52 for the Chunky Bible design and the 32nd Annual Telly Award for the NIV Bible’s “Come Closer” branded television commercial.

Zondervan’s Chunky Bible design received the prestigious Design Annual 52 Award in the book category, as noted in the 2011 September/October edition of Communications Arts.  The brightly colored compact, yet bulked-up Bible resembles a cube tear-off calendar. Its content includes NIV scripture supplemented with reading plans, quick-access content and 96 perforated tear-out cards meant to be “chunks” of wisdom, hope and love to pass along as encouragement to others. 

Zondervan’s 15-second NIV “Come Closer” commercial advertisement was a Commercial Bronze Winner in the Telly Awards.  The commercial ran on ABC Family and other networks in the spring of 2011.  The commercial reinforced the message that God seeks to connect with us through his Word.  It portrayed a peaceful, serene scene of woman sitting alone at the end of a dock on a quiet lake, spending quiet time reading her NIV Bible. 

“Our retail buyers and consumer feedback tells us people love high design, visual appeal and tactile engagement with their Bibles, and we are committed to maintaining Zondervan’s long held reputation of developing innovative Bible products and campaigns to grow Bible engagement,” said Chip Brown, Senior Vice President and Publisher at Zondervan. “We highly value our partnership with Rob Jackson and his extremely creative team at Extra Credit Projects and we are excited to see the Bible receive this recognition from the esteemed Communication Arts magazine and the Telly Awards.”

In total, Communications Arts awarded 174 winning projects from 4,291 entries in 19 categories including: Annual Reports, Books, Catalogs, Editorial, Environmental Graphics, Identity Program, Institutional Brochures, Integrated Branding Program, Letterheads, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Company Literature, Motion Graphics, Packaging, Posters, Product/Service Brochures, Public Service, Self-Promotion, and Trademarks.  Since 1950, Communication Arts magazine has published the best visual communication from around the world by announcing creative competitions that recognize the finest talent in the industry.

For 32 years, the Telly Awards have honored the best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. This year’s Annual Telly Awards received over 11,000 entries from 50 states and five continents. 

About Zondervan
Zondervan is the world’s leading Christian publisher of books whose authors are noted for their excellence in the craft of writing as well as their worthy contribution to the ongoing global evangelical conversation. The works published by Zondervan not only confirm readers’ faith and understanding, they also challenge and stretch readers’ thinking. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general, ministry, and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Zondervan publishes bestselling resources that are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan Books at www.zondervan.com/books.