Design and Illustration @BBPlus

Bologna is where culture meets style and commercial relationships are created. Bologna Children’s Book Fair is renowned for its focus on design and illustration. BBPlus follows this lead, in the general trade arena, and offers much for those interested in this aspect of the industry.

Jackets Off! Is a competition to put design in general trade publishing at the heart of the business of books. Now in its fourth year, the showcase centres around one title published across many international editions. 2023’s title was the iconic 1984,  George Orwell, and 2022 featured the international bestseller, The Handmaid’s Tale. Jackets Off examins the different interpretations of  contemporary classics across cultures and languages.

Book Jacket Design: Celebrating the Best of the Best is an international award and showcase for jacket design in general trade publishing. In March 2023 The Raven by Shakespearikon Editions was the winner of the Jacket Design: Best of the Best competition. The contest was open to all participating Greek publishers and the jury were Matt Dorfman art NYT-Book Review, Cristiano Guerri, art Feltrinelli and Aida Fernandez Pena, La Petite Cabane. 

Indie Authors Book Jacket Award - a new initiative that starting from 2024 will enable the discovery of new talent, through the variety of covers that represent them. 

Illustration & Design Forum

Part of the Bologna Grand Tour 2023

The inaugural Illustration & Design Forum was aimed at the illustrators and designers of tomorrow. Curated in partnership with Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan, it was a unique event looking at this important area of publishing. It took place on 23 January 2024 at the Groucho Club, Soho, London.

Talks and panels cover:

  • Getting Your Hands Dirty with Jon and Tom - Analog Approach to Cover Design as a Creative Resource in the Experience of Jon Gray and Tom Etherington. Through a series of case studies, a dual perspective on the value of physicality in the age of high digital impact.
  • In Conversation: with illustrator Neil Packer
  • Art Directors: Painting a Picture of a Great Role in Book Publishing Chaired Darryl Clifton, University of the Arts
  • The relationship between human creativity and artificial creativity

The afternoon culminated with portfolio reviews.

 

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