ECPA Announces Best Book Designs of 2015
Contact: Stan Jantz, Interim Executive Director, ECPA, 480-966-3998 sjantz@ecpa.org
October 20, 2015, Wheaton Ill. – The cover designs of ten books and one Bible were named the industry’s best of the year at the opening session of the industry’s Publishing University (PUBu) being held at Wheaton College, October 19-20. The Top Shelf Book Cover Awards are presented each year by ECPA to honor superb book design in Christian publishing. Eleven covers were chosen as the “stand out” designs of the year from a large pool of strong contenders, submitted by a broad representation of industry publishers.
“They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but we all know cover design has become a more important part of publishing than ever before,” states ECPA Executive Director Stan Jantz. “ECPA congratulates the designers and publishers that collaborated to produce these outstanding covers.”
The 2015 Top Shelf Book Cover Award winners are:
(click on the title link to see a larger cover image)
The Accidental Feminist: Restoring Our Delight in God’s Good Design
Author: Courtney Reissig
Publisher: Crossway
Designer: Connie Gabbert
All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas
Author: Quinn G. Caldwell
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Designer: David Carlson, Studio Gearbox
The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden
Author: Kevin DeYoung
Publisher: Crossway
Cover Design and Illustration: Don Clark
Blind Spots: Becoming a Courageous, Compassionate, and Commissioned Church
Author: Collin Hansen
Publisher: Crossway
Designer: Josh Dennis
Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet
Author: Sara Hagerty
Publisher: Zondervan
Designer: James Hall
Art Director: Curt Diepenhorst
The Hiding Place Young Reader’s Edition
Author: Corrie ten Boom with Elizabeth & John Sherrill
Publisher: Chosen/ Baker Publishing Group
Designer: Kirk DouPonce, DogEared Design
Art Director: Daniel Pitts
If I Plug My Ears, God Can’t Tell Me What To Do
Author: Jessie Clemence
Publisher: Discovery House Publishers
Designer: Tim Green, Faceout Studio
Art Director: Amy Cerra
Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel
Author: Russell Moore
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Designer: Cory Wasnewsky, Hatch Show Print
Art Director: Jeff Godby
The Reformation Study Bible (2015), ESV
Author: R.C. Sproul, General Editor
Publisher: Reformation Trust Publishing
Designer: Metaleap Creative
Design director: José Reyes
Art director: Matt Mantooth
Savor
Author: Shauna Niequist
Publisher: Zondervan
Designer: Connie Gabbert
Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World
Author: Emily P. Freeman
Publisher: Revell/ Baker Publishing Group
Designer: Greg Jackson, Thinkpen Design
Art Director: Cheryl Van Andel
“One of the hallmarks of the Top Shelf program is the caliber and reputation of the judges, who represent respected award-winning book designers,” continues Jantz. “We appreciate the time and expertise they invest in recognizing design excellence in our industry.”
Winning book covers, along with judge comments, are featured at bookcoverawards.com and in a print annual printed by Color House Graphics and distributed to the industry. Contact ECPA for copies.
Program information, including judge bios and future submission information, can be found on the ECPA website. The submission period for the 2016 Top Shelf Design Awards will open in November 2015.
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ECPA | The Top Shelf Award program is managed by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) in order to recognize design excellence in the Christian publishing industry. The membership of ECPA is made up of Christian publishers and companies providing services to the Christian publishing industry. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building Networking, Information, and Advocacy opportunities within the industry and across multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. Through programs, events, communications, recognition and research, ECPA strengthens publishing communities within the industry. The ECPA Design E-Community, PUBu Design training sessions, and Top Shelf Awards are among several ECPA-driven opportunities that designers have to network, stay informed, and be recognized within the industry. For more information on ECPA programs and membership, visit ECPA.org or contact us at info@ecpa.org.
Color House Graphics | Color House Graphics is a book manufacturing company that exists to help publishers, authors and companies create and deliver great books. CHG has been servicing the Christian publishing industry for many years. We combine craftsmanship with technology to help our customers create, print and publish great books. Explore our website or contact us and discover how we can provide you with superior service and quality from your first contact to delivery of your books. For more information about Color House Graphics, you can find us at colorhousegraphics.com or contact us at info@colorhousegraphics.com.
THE 2015 TOP SHELF JUDGES:
Kimberly Glyder is currently principal at Kimberly Glyder Design. Her work has been recognized by the AIGA in their 50 Books/50 Covers Show, the biennial AIGA 50 design competition for the DC area, the AIGA Philadelphia Design Awards, the AAUP Book Jacket and Journal Show, the New England Book Show, the New York Book Show, and in PRINT’s Regional Design Annual. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Kimberly has given lectures at various colleges and at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Charlotte Strick spent 14 years as a designer and Art Director at Faber & Faber, Inc and the paperback line at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Her work has been featured in the AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers show, the TDC Annual Exhibition, Print magazine, the Book Binder’s Guild Annual Awards Show, and many books about cover design. The proud owner of a coveted Silver Cube from The Art Director’s Club, Charlotte is also designer and Art Editor of the distinguished Paris Review magazine. Her writings on art and design have been published by The Paris Review, The Atlantic and The Huffington Post.
David Carlson is a graphic designer based in Central Oregon. He has been a partner in Studio Gearbox since 2004. His work has been recognized by Graphis, Communication Arts Design Annual and the Print Regional Design Annual, among others.
As per Top Shelf program policy, if a judge’s work is submitted by the publisher to the program, then that judge is recused from the judging process on that work, and the remaining judge scores are used.
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