Two University students shortlisted for prestigious Penguin design award

Charley Ward, 21, and Daniel Strello, 22, have seen their entries beat more than 1,200 designs to be in the final round of judging for the Adult Non-Fiction Cover Award and Children’s Cover Award respectively.

Charley took on the challenge of designing Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner and will be judged by, among others, founder of Mind Candy and creator of Moshi Monsters Michael Acton Smith. Daniel designed a cover for Nina Bawden’s Carrie’s War and his judging panel will include illustrator Cathy Cassidy and writer and illustrator Ed Vere.

Now in its ninth year, the Design Award offers students on an Art or Design course at HND or degree level exposure to and guidance from some of the publishing industry’s leading lights with the challenge to design a cover for a selected adult fiction, adult non-fiction or children’s book. John Brewer, Course Leader in Graphic Design at the University, said, ‘I’m ecstatic that Charley and Daniel have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. The competition is really fierce and while we’ve had success in other awards, we’ve never gone so far in the Penguin design award – I’m absolutely delighted.’

On hearing she had made the shortlist Charley said, ‘I wanted to do the Penguin award as one of my university projects and after really enjoying designing my cover I decided to give it a go and enter it. I can’t believe I was shortlisted but I am so chuffed. It is an amazing and boosting feeling to have success like this with a piece of my work and this is definitely something I will be proud of.’

Daniel said, ‘I entered the Penguin award as part of my University module. The news of being shortlisted was quite a surprise due to the popularity and standard of work entered. I aim to continue utilising my design skills within the design industry in future. This competition will assist in the transition from student to the start of my design career.’

Charley and Daniel will find out if they have won one of two £1,000 cash prizes and one of two design placements with the UK’s biggest book publisher when the winners are announced on 24 June.