University Press announces book design exhibit

LAWRENCE — For 10 days, the University Press of Kansas asks that you please do judge a book by its cover. From March 4 to March 15, UPK will host the Association of American University Presses Book, Jacket, and Journal Show. The exhibit will be on display at UPK headquarters, 2502 Westbrooke Circle, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. It is free and open to the public.

The show is a cross-country traveling exhibit of award-winning books featuring creative jackets and interior designs.

Fans of this art form — as well as graphic design enthusiasts in general — will have the opportunity to thumb through the winners, which include 48 books, one journa, and 22 jackets/covers. They were selected from among 226 books, 300 jackets and covers, and four journals published in 2011 that were submitted by university presses. The jurors chose books for superior layout of typography or illustration; jackets and journals were judged for outstanding overall design.  

Visitors to this informal exhibit are encouraged to pick up the books for closer examination. Complimentary copies of the show catalog containing design specifications and jurors’ comments will be available at the press.

Jurors for this year’s show were Sandra Strother Hudson, former Design and Production Manager for University of Georgia Press; Cheryl Towler Weese, founder, Studio Blue; Christopher Brand, art director at Crown Publishing Group; and Karen Horton, editorial and social media director for design:related and designrelated.com.

The juried show was established in 1964 to recognize meritorious achievement and as a means for members of the Association of American University Presses to share ideas for “intelligent, creative and resourceful bookmaking.”

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