AMSTERDAM.- Each year, the Stedelijk Museum presents the most outstanding book designs of the past twelve months. Two juries picked the designs: a panel of book design, typography and publishing professionals, and a jury of students from leading graphic design academies in the Netherlands.

382 books were nominated in 2023. The panels of industry professionals and students each chose 33 books, with 12 books appearing on both lists. Each jury assessed the balance between concept and execution, and the design of the publications. What was striking about this selection is that designers used a lot of neutral and earth tones, and well-known, inexpensive processes such as one-color printing, the Singer stitch (which uses a single thread), binding without a cover, and low-cost paper stock. These choices often go hand in hand with environmentally friendly options, like using leftover or recycled paper.

To complement this year’s selection, the Stedelijk is also showing two works by the American artist Ed Ruscha which demonstrate the innovative binding techniques found in many of this year’s books: “Every Building on the Sunset Strip” (1966) and “Dutch Details” (1971).

TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

The jury is under the impression that the hypes of silver printing on black paper and the use of fluorescent colors are a thing of the past. Two ongoing trends are the abundant use of slipcovers and a rise in the use of cassettes and sleeves. Another development is books with a Japanese binding, a trend that might be enjoying a revival, as the jury also noted the popularity of this binding in 2009.

The 2023 selection is proof that good book design doesn’t have to be expensive. Occasionally, designers choose innovative budget options but, on the whole, tend to pick well-known, cost-effective processes such as single-color printing, which they use to good effect. Overall, things are getting greener given that many of these design choices – such as using leftover paper stock or paper with a lower carbon footprint – are also eco-friendly. In which sense, the jury observes that economic and ecological constraints are no barrier to great book design.

Most of the designs that were chosen – 24 books in all – are in the category of art, photography, and architecture. From this selection the student jury also chose 11 titles as the Best Book Design.

One book belongs to the category prose, poetry, and graphic novels:

• Tosca by Maud Vanhauwaert. Design: Jelle Jespers, Frank August Gerard Martens | Production: Tim Beijer, Wilco BV | Books & Magazines | Publisher: Das Mag

One children’s/young adult book was selected:

• Manie Schaafijs by Zindzi Zevenbergen and Hedy Tjin (who also has an exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in 2025). Design: Lyanne Tonk | Production: Wilco BV | Books & Magazines, Benelux Bookbinders | Publisher: De Harmonie

Seven publications are informative books:

• De wereld in het klein by Caroline Waltman and Gloria Waltman Flore. Design: Koehorst in 't Veld (Joanne van der Wal) | Production: Pelle Poiesz, Marc Gijzen, Printsupport4you | Publisher: Noordboek.

• ICOON De geschiedenis van 'n onverbiddelijke BESTSELLER van Onno Blom en Jan Cremer. Design: Michaël Snitker | Production: Wilco Art Books | Publisher: KOMMA.

• Let's Become Fungal! by Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez. Design: Andrea Spikker | Production: Wilco Art Books | Publisher: Valiz.

• Radical Fashion Exercises by Laura Gardner, Daphne Mohajer va Pesaran. Design: Line Arngaard | Production: Wilco Art Books | Publisher: Valiz

• Reuse to Reduce by Jan Willem ter Steege et al. Design: Tariq Heijboer | Production: RaddraaierSSP | Publisher: Jap Sam Books

• Tonia Stieltjes by Esther Schreuder Design: Lyanne Tonk | Production: Wilco Art Books| Publisher: Waanders

• UNLICENSED: Bootlegging as Creative Practice by Ben Schwartz. Design: Ben Schwartz | Production: Wilco Art Books| Publisher: Valiz