Allen & Unwin
Award for Best Commercial Book for Adults 2023
Finalist
Designer: Cat Taylor, Penguin Random House NZ, illustrations by Luther Ashford
Title: Wawata – Moon Dreaming: Daily wisdom guided by Hina, the Māori moon
Publisher: Penguin Random House NZ
Format: 178 x 126mm, 240p, PLC square backed, text stock is Enso Classic Bulky 70gsm woodfree FSC. Case with matt lam, spot gloss, foil.
Typography: Johnston ITC Pro – various weights and sizes. Bodoni Svntytwo ITC Std – various weights and sizes. Georgia Pro – various weights and sizes.
The brief was to incorporate the Ōkoro into the endpapers, and moon phases for each section. To sit as a pair with Aroha.
Judges’ comments Following the success of Elder’s Aroha, the decision to make companion title in Wawata is a great commercial decision. The small, hardback format is perfectly gift sized and the extra silver embossing of the takarangi spiral seems to reflect the echo of the moon’s halo. There is an incredible consideration of design care in the chapter openers – a deep reflection the taonga of mātauranga Māori in this book. This does not go unnoticed.
This book feels like a little treasure in the hand, with a few sparkly elements that never feel flashy or overstated.
There is a lot of finesse in the design and production of Wawata. The paper-lined case is beautifully produced with elegantly combined photography, metallic silver graphic patterning and refined typography high-lighted with a spot-gloss. The high-quality production keeps all of these elements tightly registered. Inside, the illustrative section openers are an added feature. The typography is a perfect size on the page, highly crafted, and easy to read.
