CSVPA Graduate Diploma student, Siena has been awarded one of two ‘Highly Commended’ awards in the Thames & Hudson Award for Book Design.
As part of the celebrations to commemorate their 75th anniversary, world leading publishers Thames & Hudson invited design and illustration students to complete a book design brief in one of four categories: Art, History, Photography and Children’s Books. The brief received was similar to live briefs that the in-house design team work with and encouraged students to consider all aspects of book design including covers and jackets, interior layouts and illustration style.
Undergraduate and master’s degree students from a wide range of art and design colleges across the UK and Ireland submitted their work, which was judged by a panel composed of award-winning creative director Astrid Stavro, graphic designer Fraser Muggeridge, and design agency director and Professor of Communication at the Royal College of Art, Neville Brody.
Siena was praised for her designs for Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow’s If I Had a Dinosaur, an illustrated children’s bedtime story about a little girl who imagines what it would be like to have a dinosaur of her very own. The judges described her work as ‘wonderfully fun and exuberant.’ She was one of only two runners up in the competition, receiving a ‘Highly Commended’ award and recognition from some of the leading figures in book publishing.
Martin Andersen, Course Leader for our MA Visual Communications courses, introduced Siena to the opportunity. He said of her work: “Siena has truly brought an innovative and playful spirit to the Thames & Hudson children’s book project brief If I Had a Dinosaur. With her creativity, she has crafted a stunning outcome that blends beauty, humour, and visual excitement in every detail. The model-making and photography are carefully crafted and full of humour and visual excitement. Siena’s approach stands out as a wonderful and unique interpretation, transforming the brief into a memorable and engaging experience that will captivate both children and adults alike.”
Taking part in this opportunity has allowed Siena to really challenge herself with a creative yet commercially focused project, giving her insight into approaching a brief in a professional context.
Speaking on participating in the competition, Siena said “The Thames & Hudson brief was one of the first projects I worked on when I joined my Pre-Master’s. Martin really encouraged me to play around with the concept and helped me with the photoshoot. I was so pleased to hear that I had been awarded Highly Commended, especially since it was one of the first projects I worked on after I got in to Pre-Master’s. I had a lot of fun creating the props and doing the photoshoots for it.”
Find out more information about our Graduate Diploma in Art & Design course.
