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2025

Sometimes you should judge a book by its cover...

Welcome to the Bridgeman Images Book Cover Awards 2025. Celebrating Global Creativity and Excellence in Book Cover Design.

Deadline
30 Dec, 2024
Categories
1. Judges Selections
2. Popular vote
Apply now

Please provide the following details to complete your submission:

Completed Book Cover Image: Upload a high-quality image of the final published book cover design.
‍Bridgeman Images Assets Used: Include the title and/or number codes of the images licensed from Bridgeman Images that were used in the design.
‍Publisher Information: Provide the name of the publisher and the location of the book’s publication.

This information will help us ensure that all entries meet the eligibility requirements and allow us to showcase the creative use of Bridgeman Images in your design. By submitting your entry, you acknowledge and accept all terms and conditions as detailed on this page and in our FAQs.

Applications are now closed.

Winner

Madeline Partner

“Green Frog” by Gina Chung
Published by Vintage Books, Penguin Random House, United States

Images used (Click to view original)


© The Holbarn Archive
© The Stapleton Collection
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"This cover is a perfect marriage of artistry and imagination. By reimagining archival illustrations in such a modern and clever way, it transforms historical visuals into a timeless and utterly mesmerising piece."

Hannah Watson

“An inventive and inspired approach to design, this cover masterfully intertwines early 20th-century butterfly illustrations, creating a clever dialogue between image and text. The result is a beautiful and original cover."

Sophy Thompson

Honorable Mention

Tim Bisschop

“Dius” by Stefan Hertmans
Published by De Bezige Bij, The Netherlands

Image used (Click to view original)


© Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
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“A strikingly effective cover where a carefully selected image detail is seamlessly paired with perfectly placed typography. The balance achieved is a testament to the designer's impeccable eye and restraint."

Piers Russell-Cobb

"With subtle sophistication, this cover employs the original image with quiet intelligence, creating a design that is both poised and impactful."

Sebastian White

Honorable Mention

Pete Adlington

“She’s Always Hungry” by Eliza Clark
Published by Faber & Faber, United Kingdom

Image used (Click to view original)


© Juno Calypso

“Juno Calypso is herself a powerful and arresting artist who favours the strong pink but the book cover is both bold and disarming. The enigmatic use of photography feels fresh, youthful and effortlessly dynamic - a standout among competitors on any table.”

Harriet Bridgeman

Winner of the Popular Vote

Francesco Ceccarelli

Controculture 1956-1995 by Francesco Ciaponi & Silvia Sfligiotti
Published by Lazy Dog Press, Italy

Image used (Click to view original)


© Hapshash and the Coloured Coat

Judging
panel
Harriet Bridgeman
Founder, Bridgeman Images

Harriet Bridgeman CBE founded the Bridgeman Art Library in 1972 to provide fine art, cultural, and historical images for reproduction. She also founded the Artists' Collecting Society in 2006. Harriet received the European Women Achievement Award in 1997 and was appointed CBE in 2014 for her services to art.

Piers Russell-Cobb
Founder, MediaFund

Piers Russell-Cobb is co-chair and director of Bridgeman Images. Previous roles include deputy chair of the independent book sellers Zwemmers and Philip Wilson Publishers; publicity and promotions director of Heinemann, and for eight years international marketing manager of Thames and Hudson Limited. He founded the media advisory business MediaFund in 1991.

Sophy Thompson
CEO and Publisher, Thames & Hudson

Sophy Thompson is CEO and Publisher of Thames & Hudson, overseeing over 200 new publications a year on the visual arts, cultural history and creative practice, including a thriving children’s list and partnerships with museums and leading brands worldwide. She directs T&H’s international teams in the UK, France, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Hannah Watson
Director, Trolley Books and TJ Boulting

Hannah Watson is the Director of contemporary art gallery TJ Boulting and independent publisher Trolley Books. Established in 2001, Trolley Books publishes a diverse range of award-winning titles across contemporary art and photography. Hannah is also chair of the committee for The Photographers’ Gallery Associate Patrons and a board member for the Artists’ Collecting Society. Previously she was chair of The Fitzrovia Chapel and curated their exhibitions of Leigh Bowery, Caroline Walker and Lee Miller.

Sebastian White
Founding Director, Kellenberger–White

Sebastian White is a British graphic designer and co-founder of Kellenberger–White. The studio is best known for its work in brand identity, wayfinding and exhibition design for cultural institutions, type design, and collaborative book projects with artists. Sebastian studied Textile Design at Central Saint Martins College before completing his MA at the Royal College of Art. Kellenberger–White’s work has received numerous awards, including recognition from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture’s Most Beautiful Swiss Books and the Tokyo Type Directors Club. In 2023, Sebastian was elected a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale.

Bridgeman
Images
Bridgeman Images is the world's leading source of fine art, cultural and historical media for reproduction. We help creatives produce award-winning work, by licensing images and videos from thousands of the world’s most prestigious museums, collections, contemporary artists, and photographers.

Our clients benefit from a simple, fast, reliable service and comprehensive advice on all aspects of copyright and licensing. With offices in London, Paris, New York, Berlin and Bologna, we are one of the world’s oldest image licensing agencies and have been clearing copyright and reproduction rights on behalf of artists and artists' estates since 1972.

We pioneered the model of sharing a significant proportion of income with our image suppliers as royalties. Over the years we’ve paid more than $75m+ to our content partners, which goes back to supporting arts and culture globally.
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BRIEF

The Bridgeman Images Book Cover Awards offer a unique platform for book cover designers and publishers who licensed one or more images from Bridgeman Images for book cover designs in 2024.

This competition celebrates the best in creativity and innovation, highlighting the dynamic use of historic and contemporary art and images in book cover design. Open to international designers and publishers who licensed one or more images from Bridgeman Images this year, the Awards are divided into judges selections and a popular vote determined by an online poll in January, providing an inclusive stage for showcasing artistic excellence across genres and cultures.

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Eligibility

Design clients and/or publishers who licensed an image via Bridgeman Images for a Trade or Academic book cover, which has been published through 2024, are all eligible.

Entries can be submitted via the form on the awards website below with a deadline of 30 December 2024. (*All clients who licensed an image for these purposes via Bridgeman Images will be considered provided they complete the submission form.)

Judging & Structure

The awards feature two categories:

1. Judges Selections
2. Popular Vote

An expert judging panel is comprised of; Harriet Bridgeman (Founder, Bridgeman Images); Piers Russell-Cobb (Owner and Managing Director at MediaFund Limited); Sophy Thompson (CEO and Publisher, Thames & Hudson), Hannah Watson (Director, Trolley Books and TJ Boulting), and Sebastian White (Founding Director, Kellenberger–White).

Public engagement is encouraged through a digital poll for the Popular Vote category. The digital voting portal for the latter category will be launched on this website on 15 January 2025; with a voting deadline of 22 January 2025, this will consist of the shortlisted covers. All shortlisted entries will be announced on 15 January 2025, with winners announced on 30 January 2025.

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faqs
Are there any entry fees for participating in the Awards?
No, there are no entry fees. All clients who licensed an image for book cover purposes via Bridgeman Images in 2024 will be considered for the Awards, provided they complete the submission form.
How will the entries be judged?
Entries will be judged based on creativity, innovation, and how effectively they use Bridgeman Images assets in the design. The Judges' Selections will be made by the expert panel, and the Popular Vote will be determined by online public voting consisting of the shortlisted covers.
Why should I enter?
The Book Cover Award is a unique opportunity for artists and designers to showcase their talent on an international stage. Winners benefit from significant industry recognition and the chance to have their work reviewed by a panel of influential figures in the art, publishing, and design worlds. In addition to a monetary prize and a commemorative award, the true value lies in the exposure and the potential for future collaborations that can emerge from the platform.
How does the Popular Vote work?
The Popular Vote is a democratic, global category that invites the public to vote for their favorite shortlisted book cover design. The digital voting portal will be made live on this website on 15 January 2025 and close on 22 January 2025. The cover with the most votes will be awarded the Popular Vote.
Can I enter multiple designs?
Yes, you can submit multiple entries as long as each design used at least one image licensed from Bridgeman Images for a book cover in 2024. Each entry must be submitted separately through the form.
Can I enter if I have not licensed a Bridgeman Images work for my cover?
No, only book covers that feature at least one image licensed from Bridgeman Images within 2024 are eligible for entry. The Awards are specifically designed to celebrate the creative use of our image library in book cover design. If your cover does not include a licensed Bridgeman Images asset, it will not qualify for submission.
Is the book required to have been published in 2024?
The image must have been licensed from Bridgeman Images in 2024, however, if the book is set to be published in 2025 it is also eligible, given permission from the publisher for the cover to be promoted ahead of it's publication date.
How can I get in touch if I have additional questions?
For any inquiries or further assistance, please contact us at awards@bridgemanimages.com.
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AboutFAQs
Celebrate the art of book cover design with the 2025 Bridgeman Images Book Cover Awards, honouring creativity and innovation through the dynamic use of imagery.
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