Te Herenga Waka University Press
Award for Best Typography 2023
Finalist
Designer: Kate Barraclough, illustrations by Pippa Keel
Title: The RNZ Cookbook: A treasury of 180 recipes from New Zealand’s best-known chefs and food writers
Publisher: Massey University Press
Format: 250 x 190mm, 272pp. Hardback, two piece case, Yulong Pure text throughout
"This layout very much took the approach that less is more and aims to strike a balance between contemporary and classic. A light touch of simple pencil illustrations ensures it will never go out of date. A tome to be read and referenced often, not just briefly flicked through. The use of only one PMS colour and black text throughout gives an authoritative tone to further place this as an essential book in every cook’s kitchen."
Judges’ comments The typography in this cookbook is both highly considered and really usable—sophisticated and accessible at the same time. Just like on the radio, here the words matter, and the decision to make type the hero pays dividends and is conceptually on-point. The selection of a Founders Grotesk is spot on, with its unusual glyphs key to the design's success. The internal grid system delivers wonderfully readable type and a nice balance of type sizes between heading, recipe and instruction. I can't vouch for the food, but the typography is 'chef's kiss'.
