2025 Alcuin Book Design Awards Catalogue
By now, all our members should've received their physical copy of the Alcuin’s Awards Catalogue, containing images and descriptions of books designed and published in 2025.
Please see it here:
alcuinsociety.com/catalogues
Designed by Natalie Chiovitti @natalierc.studio, the catalogue presents 33 winning books from 35 designers and includes the judges' comments.
Here, Natalie describes the catalogue design and choice of type:
”The Alcuin Society promotes the appreciation of the physical book and elements that bring forth the author’s thoughts and simultaneously enhances the reader’s experience. As the longest-running national competition since 1981, The Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada, recognizes and celebrates Canadian book design. The Alcuin Society is named after the Alcuin of York (c. 735–804 AD) for his substantial library of books and his influence on the development of legible script of its day.
Inspired by the intent to celebrate Canadian book design, I use typefaces designed by a Canadian type designer Ray Larabie. I chose to use serif and sans-serif typefaces including Marion (Monotype) and Coolvetica (Typodermic Fonts). I used The Alcuin Society’s signature red alongside rich brown and light powder pink to combine deep earthy warmth with soft playful contrast, for a look that is both grounded and creative. As a navigational feature throughout the catalogue, I use thumbnail-inspired section dividers, Gutenberg-style margins, and bold typography. Further, an infographic calls attention to the 35 designers, 33 books, 26 publishers, and 6 provinces across Canada included in this year’s awards. Visually, I use scale, colour, and pattern of design elements such as stamp-effect images and collages to celebrate The Alcuin Society’s evolving publishing and design directions.”
Photos courtesy of Natalie Chiovitti
nataliechiovitti.com
