Student takes top prize in classic children’s book cover brief

A University of Wolverhampton student has won a national competition to design a cover for a classic children’s book.

Lucie Williams was the winner in the Children’s Cover Award in the Penguin Random House Design Award 2015.

The competition is in its ninth year and offers art and design students the chance to design a cover for a classic adult or children’s book, receiving more than 1,200 entries.

Lucie, a final year student at the Wolverhampton School of Art studying BA (Hons) Visual Communications (Illustration), chose to design a cover for Nina Bawden’s classic children’s novel Carrie’s War.

The striking yellow and black design by the 21-year-old from Tameside in Greater Manchester was picked as the winner by a judging panel made up of the managing director and art director at Penguin Random House UK, illustrator Cathy Cassidy and writer and illustrator Ed Vere.

Francesca Dow, Managing Director for Penguin Random House UK Children's said: “A very striking design which stands out and makes you want to pick up the book and find out more. I love the cover’s bold lettering, the simple use of colour and the ‘scratchy’ detailing. It was a very exciting winner.”

Lucie, who has just finished her course, said: “We covered the design of book covers as a module on my course and I just fell in love with it.

‌“I’d read Carrie’s War as a child and remember watching it on TV so knew the story quite well.  I designed a few different versions but loved the yellow and the affinity it had with the Penguin branding.

“When I went along to the ceremony I wasn’t expecting to win at all and win they called out my name I was absolutely shell shocked. It was just the icing on the cake.

“I’m really looking forward to the placement at the studios as it’s what I’d really love to do as a career. I immensely enjoyed my course and the tutors were fantastic and so supportive.”

John Clementson, Subject Leader for Visual Communications within the University’s Wolverhampton School of Art, said: “The entire staff team are delighted with Lucie’s success. She has been a pleasure to work with throughout the three years of her undergraduate career and we expect her to really make full use of this fantastic opportunity.

“This has been a remarkable year for the Visual Communication subjects, having now won both the Puffin prize and also the winner and runner up in the Orion Book prize.”

Lucie was awarded a trophy, £1,000 cash and a four week placement working at Penguin Random House Adult or Children’s studio.

ENDS

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