HarperCollins Publishers Award for Best Cover 2026
Finalist
Cover Designer: Momoe i manu ae ala atea’e Tasker
Title: Black Sugarcane
Publisher: Te Herenga Waka University Press
Format: 210 x 170 mm, 128pp, thread sewn.
Typography: Cover: Churchward Samoa, size 15/18pt, regular
Untitled Serif, size 17pt, leading 22pt, regular, regular italic
Judges’ Comments:
“A gorgeous, bold, illustrated cover which feels tactile and artisanal, highly appropriate for a poetry collection. The stark two-tone illustration calls on the character of a block print, reinforcing the sense of craft within the artwork. The typography is carefully integrated, referencing the style of the illustration. Together, the type and artwork feel intertwined, creating a bold cover design.”
