PENGUIN DESIGN AWARDS: BRIEF

What A Carve Up! by Jonathan Coe

A brilliant noir farce, a dystopian vision of Britain, a family history and the story of an obsession.

Background

Michael is a lonely, rather pathetic writer, obsessed by the film ‘What A Carve Up!’ in which a mad knifeman cuts his way through the inhabitants of a decrepit stately pile as the thunder rages. Inexplicably he is commissioned to write the family history of the Winshaws, an upper class Yorkshire clan whose members have a finger in every establishment pie, from arms dealing to art dealing, from politics to banking to the popular press and factory farming. During his researches Michael realizes that the Winshaws have cast a blight on his life, as they have on Britain. His confidence, his sexual and personal identity begin to reform. In a climax set in the Winshaws’ family seat the novel turns into the film ‘What A Carve Up!’ as a murderous maniac stalks the family and Michael discovers the significance of Shirley Eaton’s lingerie.

Creative Challenge

Your cover design should reflect the richness of Jonathan Coe’s writing to appeal to a contemporary, discerning, literary readership. There are many layers and themes within the book. Read it and discover what the book means to you.

Your cover design needs to include all the cover copy as supplied and be designed to the specified design template (B format, 198mm high x 129mm wide, spine 31mm wide).

What the judges are looking for:

We are looking for a striking cover design that is well executed, has an imaginative concept and clearly places the book for its market. While all elements of the jacket need to work together as a cohesive whole, remember that the front cover must be effective on its own and be eye-catching within a crowded bookshop setting.

Messages

‘Big, hilarious, intricate, furious, moving’ Guardian

‘Probably the best English novelist of his generation’ Nick Hornby

‘Everything a novel ought to be: courageous, challenging, funny, sad – and peopled with a fine troupe of characters’ The Times

‘A sustained feat of humour, suspense and polemic, full of twists and ironies’ Hilary Mantel, Sunday Times

Target Audience

A contemporary, discerning, literary readership

Considerations

• have an imaginative concept and original interpretation of the brief
• be competently executed with strong use of typography
• appeal to a contemporary readership
• show a good understanding of the marketplace
• have a point of difference from the many other book covers it is competing against

Mandatories

THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014.

Deliverables, Artwork and Additional Information

Entries must supplied in the following format:

• PDF
• 300ppi
• CMYK
• 5mm bleed
• Ideally colour managed to ISO Coated 39 or ISO Uncoated 29 (optional)
• Trim and crop marks to be included
• Maximum file size 5 meg

Please include the front cover only on the first page of your PDF and a full cover spread (front, spine and back cover) on the second page of your PDF.

Please use the design template supplied.

All entries must be submitted digitally via the Submissions Site. Entries submitted in any other way, including by email or hard copy, will not be accepted.