Student hopes to pick up a Penguin Prize

The 2014 Penguin Random House Design Award, which comprises the Penguin Adult Prize and Puffin Children’s Prize, received more than 1,100 entries from aspiring designers across the UK.

The 22-year-old, who lives in Cambridge and is studying a BA (Hons) in Illustration, is one of just 10 students from across the UK who made the Adult Prize shortlist.  Her place on the shortlist puts her in the running to win a £1,000 cash prize and a design placement with the UK’s biggest book publisher.

Now in its seventh 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 or children’s book. 

Angharad, who is originally from Halifax, took on the challenge of designing Jonathan Coe’s contemporary classic What A Carve Up and will be judged by artist Rob Ryan, renowned chef and cookery author Jamie Oliver, artist Petra Börner and Penguin’s in-house experts Joanna Prior, Jim Stoddart and John Hamilton.  The winner will be announced on 18 June.

Angharad said: “I heard about the Award through my tutor.  I hadn’t entered a competition before, neither had I attempted a book cover, and wanted to challenge myself. 

“I am incredibly chuffed to be shortlisted, mostly because I loved the book so much, and really connected with the project.  I’m hoping that this will provide a platform for potential future work as an illustrator.”

Tom Weldon, CEO, Penguin Random House UK, said “Standout cover design is an integral part of the success of a book and Penguin Random House has created thousands of iconic book covers throughout the years.

“We value creativity and design incredibly highly and started the Penguin Random House Design Award to encourage the next generation of designers to use their amazing talents to help us tell our stories.  I am always impressed with the quality of submissions and this year is no exception so our judges will have a tough job picking their winners.”

Anglia Ruskin students have enjoyed previous success in the awards.  In 2012, Tim Parker, a BA (Hons) Illustration student, won the Puffin Children’s Prize, while MA Children’s Book Illustration student Alison King was runner-up in the Penguin Adult Category.

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For more press information please contact:

Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk

Jamie Forsyth on t: 0845 196 4716, e: Jamie.forsyth@anglia.ac.uk
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