Allen & Unwin Award
for Best Commercial Book for Adults 2022

Winner

Designers: Camilla Lau & Te Kani Price with Rowan Heap (illustrator)
Title: Kurangaituku
Publisher: HUIA Publishers
Format: 229 x 152mm, 392pp, PUR bound.
A linen finish paper stock was used for the cover to provide a tactile finish and mimic the scratchiness of the main character and the tone of the story. A tipped in orange insert to act as the ‘back cover blurb’ is repeated at both ends of the book to maintain the readers choice on which direction to start the book from

Typography: Dialogue: Lexia Mono, Italic, 9pt/16pt 40pt tracking
Poetic feature: Lexia Mono, Light Italic, 8.25pt/14pt 20pt tracking
Body text: Arno Pro, regular, 190.25pt/17pt 20 pt tracking
Headings: DIN Condensed, demi, 24pt, 200pt tracking
Multiple typefaces and treatments are used to signify different voices and narratives within the text. Extended en and em dashes throughout the text to draw out the reading but also to signify the pace or trailing off of the protagonists thoughts.

Judges’ comments The commercial category took the judges on a few potential avenues, but we returned to the question – does it sell? And yes, Kurangaituku does – therefore, a worthy winner of this category.

The innovation in writing is only possible with the aid of its designer. We see collaboration and trust.

The font is balanced, the title headings are clear

The design of this book breaks the rules, it’s unsettling. However, it works.