Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book 2026
Winner
Designer: Arch and Jane MacDonnell (Inhouse)
Title: Tony Fomison: Life of the Artist
Publisher: Auckland University Press
Format: 240 x 170 mm, 472pp, section sewn, cased in on 3c printed Fine Linen, jacket printed 3c on creamy woodfree, laminated on the reverse, text on creamy woodfree throughout.
Typography: Display: Pitch Sans, a love letter to the typewriter. A typewriter has a singular purpose: putting letters onto a page. Put the paper in, stab away at the keys and letters instantly appear. It’s tactile, analogue, immediate.
Body text: Martina Plantijn.
The title typography adopts a measured rhythm, quietly echoing the generous spacing and cadence of Fomison’s handwritten title lettering from an early exhibition catalogue, creating a subtle dialogue between the artist’s hand and the author’s voice.
Judges’ Comments
“A compelling biography of NZ artist Tony Fomison which is elevated by a series of thoughtful, restrained design decisions.
The two-colour cover and dustjacket feature a photograph by Mark Adams, giving the book a strong visual presence before entering content. The metallic gold endpapers on uncoated stock feel reminiscent of the patina of an aged gilt frame and complement the colour palettes used in the artist’s work. The distinctive display typeface seen on the cover and throughout, balances strength with character. There is a good use of mono-spaced typeface for supplementary information, creating a clear typographic difference from the main body/narrative and giving these references a distinctive typographic quality.”
