Penguin Random House New Zealand
Award for Best Illustrated Book 2021

Finalist

Designers: Katrina Duncan, Kieran E. Scott and Tam West
Title: DOT
Publisher: Penguin Random House NZ
Format: 165 x 120mm, 152pp. Cover: PLC, square-backed, head and tail bands, wibalin buckram x 5 different PMS plus black foil, text 1.3 Yulong Pure

Typography: Gaegu, varying sizes and weights according to hierarchy of text

Judges’ comments An arguably unclassifiable book, which was entered into the Illustrated category. DOT punches above its diminutive weight in this category for sure, but is arguably also purely typographic, in the illustrative way that good typography is capable of, with its shape-shifting, full stop, titular protagonist. A delightful, tactile, linen paper colour palette allows readers to choose their favourite flavour from five different colours, with contrasting heads, tails and endpapers, and perfectly selected off-white text stock. It has a very nice flexible binding within the case. The handwriting-style typeface used could just have well been actual handwriting, a tiny missed opportunity to align with the story’s occasional illustrated surprises, perhaps. However, this is no big deal for a small book that addresses the anxiety we’re all feeling in the world right now with such charming economy and wit in both the writing and the design