It just keeps getting better

I know I sound like I'm pushing our own barrow a bit at the moment. But it's been a really amazing week and really as a Book Designer, things just don't get much better than this.

There's the two shortlisted titles in the PANZ Book Design Awards and now I've just read the Booksellers Bestsellers List for 01/05/2010 and we've designed 3 books of the 10 books listed in this weeks top sellers.

Go Wonky Donkey, Friends of Snake and Lizard and the redesigned Little Yellow Digger.

TWICE shortlisted for the PANZ Book Design awards

Oh it's so exciting ... Anita has made the shortlist with her fantastic design for Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith and illustrations by Katz Cowley, published by Scholastic. This is an example where good design is subtle and doesn't always get noticed. She spent hours putting in textured backgrounds behind Katz's wonderful drawings to capture the country/earthy feel. With emphasis on the right words within the text it all helps this story to romp along to the beat.

Peter was the designer for our second title.  Year 9 Graphics - A course of work by Paul Bourdot. Published by Nelson Cengage Learning and New House. It's in the educational section where we gained a High Commended Award last year for Excellence in Biology III (also published by Cengage). The colours in this title are very non-intrusive and the pencil character is from Peter's own hand - the A5 booklet ties in nicely with the A3 worksheet pad. Plus there's an interactive CD.

We're busily ordering the other shortlisted books from the library at the moment as this is such a win-win situation. It's great to sit down and appreciate other well designed books and to see other designers work. All the best to everyone shortlisted.

So now we get to sit tight and wait to see what happens at the awards ceremony in Auckland on the 22 July. 

You can check out more about the awards at http://bpanz.org.nz/?p=334

A goodbye to old friends

Now we're over the shock of Peter and Diane leaving it seems like a good time to post this tribute to their time with us.

By the sounds of things the new jobs are going well.

Anita, Maria and I wish you both all the best.

... and next. Well as they say a change is as good as a holiday. So we upturned the office and shifted it all around before our newbies joined the team.

Now I just need to get our newbies (Trisha and Julian) to stand still long enough to take photo. It will happen within the next week, (although that's a positive story for how well things are going!)

Google Classic

Check out what Google used to look like.. Imagine having to wait 30 days for a search! 

It's amazing how much technology changes everything. I don't know what I'd do without google search!

Martin Taylor's latest eReport is a scarey read. Ebooks have not only changed the publishing model, but are now set to change how books are produced. All thanks to Apple having a spat with Adobe. 

I'm really pleased we're already moving towards producing material to web standards.

http://activitypress.com/2010/04/13/ipad-a-hit-but-apples-nasty-turn-catches-publishers-in-the-cross-fire/

Looks of concentration

I'm sitting here thinking I should be blogging about something technical, but while gazing around the room I've notice some really funny 'sites' that I just have to share.

Have you ever noticed the look on someone's face when they're thinking. Like really thinking. Anita is designing a children's picture book cover today with a fantastic illustration. She's choosing background colours, fonts and text colours - one of her favourite things to do. She loves playing with colour ... so the mouth and lips are twitching as she's contemplating whether she likes what she sees. When I asked her 'was she having fun', the answer came back 'yes, but I really have to eat and can't stop yet'. The funny bunny.

Peter's working hard trying to get things tidied up before leaving tomorrow and there must seem like more to do than time will allow. He's sitting strumming his fingers on the desk, waiting, waiting, (patiently?) for his computer to process.

Perhaps I should get busy and do some real work so I fit in with the crowd.

Would love to hear what you look like when you're thinking - is that possible?  

Goodbye Diane!

It is sad to see Diane leaving our team at Carpe Diem | Book Design. I know we will miss her. Here are a few photos from a lovely good bye lunch we had for her.


Present time...

Saying last good byes....


My delicious dessert....


Kim's awesome dessert...