50 Books | 50 Covers
Starting in 1923 as the Fifty Books of the Year competition, this time-honored competition identifies the 50 best-designed books and book covers of the year. Together, we celebrate powerful and compelling book design and the community‘s most inspired creations.
Winners of 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024 have been announced! See below to explore the Winners Gallery.
About AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers Competition
This survey of book design represents perhaps the longest-standing legacy in American graphic design. Beginning in 1923, the Fifty Books of the Year competition was a yearly mainstay of AIGA. As dust jackets became more common, covers were added to the competition. Even in an era of digital books, Tik Toks, and Reels, AIGA understands the timeless, magnetic power of design to engage readers and encourage them to turn the page. That is why the AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers competition continues to recognize the best of book and book cover design from around the world.
Selections from past competitions have been added to the AIGA Design Archives—one of the richest online resources available to those who practice, study, and appreciate great design—as well as the physical archives at the Denver Art Museum (1980–2012) and at the RBML at Columbia University's Butler Library in New York City. From 2012–2018 Design Observer hosted the competition with AIGA through a joint venture and winners can be seen on Design Observer (2011–2017). Recent winner galleries include: 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2021, 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2022, 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2023, and the current winners of 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024.
Meet the Jurors for 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2025
Scott Vander Zee (Chair)
Graphic & Typeface Designer; Educator, Pratt Institute & Parsons—The New School
Scott Vander Zee is a New York–based graphic and typeface designer whose work centers on book and editorial design, systems, and custom typography. His projects have received international recognition, including The Best Book Design from All Over the World (Golden Letter), The Most Beautiful Swiss Books, The Most Beautiful German Books, and AIGA’s 50 Books / 50 Covers.
In 2024, Scott juried The Best Book Design from All Over the World in Leipzig and The Beauty of Books in China in Shanghai. In 2025, he served as a juror for AIGA’s 50 Books / 50 Covers in New York. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate School of Design and a Visiting Professor at Parsons—The New School, where he teaches courses in book and editorial design, design systems, and typeface design.
Alberto Rigau
Creative Director, Estudio Interlínea
Alberto Rigau is a Puerto Rico–based graphic designer, educator, and book designer whose practice focuses on narratives, context, and culture. For more than 20 years, he has designed books and publication systems spanning museum catalogues, exhibitions, and research-driven editorial projects that connect design with history and place.
Through Estudio Interlínea, he works at the intersection of anthropology and design, treating each book as a portable exhibition and lasting cultural record. Alberto has taught in Puerto Rico and the U.S., integrating book design and typography into his courses, and has served in national leadership roles with AIGA and the AIGA Design Educators Community.
Julia Schäfer
Design Director, MoMA PS1
Julia Schäfer is a Brooklyn-based designer from Basel and Design Director at MoMA PS1, where she works across exhibitions, publications, and institutional communications. She has previously worked with publishers and agencies in Europe and the US. She has been a guest critic at Parsons, Pratt, VCU, the School of Visual Arts, Zurich University of the Arts, and Yale University.
Her work explores the means of the relationships between design, technology, and contemporary art. She holds an MFA from the Yale School of Art.
Jonathan Silberman
Owner, Fearless Future
Jonathan Silberman is an award-winning graphic designer, coder, and author who helps nonprofits and educational institutions promote their services and tell their stories. In the past 20 years, his designs have garnered awards from multiple graphic design publications such as HOW, Print, and Graphic Design USA.
Jonathan serves on the AIGA Baltimore board as Interactive Web Director.
Kelly Walters
Founder & Creative Director, Bright Polka Dot; Director, BFA Communication Design, Parsons School of Design
Kelly Walters is an artist and designer and the founder of Bright Polka Dot, a multidisciplinary studio creating exhibitions, installations, publications, and digital experiences for cultural and commercial institutions. Her work has been recognized by Graphis, It’s Nice That, Communication Arts, The One Club, and the Graham Foundation.
She is the author of Black, Brown + Latinx Design Educators: Conversations on Design and Race and The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection. Kelly is an Associate Professor and Director of the BFA Communication Design program at Parsons School of Design.
Lauren Vajda
Creative Director & Founder, Verso Design
Lauren Vajda is a designer and creative director with more than 20 years of experience across publishing, education, nonprofit, and technology sectors. She began her career at HarperCollins, where she developed a lasting appreciation for the material qualities of communication.
Her work spans identity, digital, book, and communication systems, grounded in strategic thinking and long-term impact. Lauren is the founder of Verso Design, an intentionally small studio focused on principled design and meaningful collaboration.
Competition Details
2026 Entry Fees + Deadlines
All deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. ET.
EARLY DISCOUNT DEADLINE
January 12, 2026
AIGA Members: $75
Not Yet A Member: $110
REGULAR DEADLINE
March 16, 2026
AIGA Members: $100
Not Yet A Member: $135
FINAL DEADLINE
April 13, 2026
AIGA Members: $150
Not Yet A Member: $185
LATE FEE DEADLINE
April 27, 2026
AIGA Members: $165
Not Yet A Member: $200
If work is selected by the jurors, an email notification will be sent to entrants of winning work in Summer 2024.
Juror selections will be published in a collection on the competition website and shared across AIGA channels. Physical copies will be housed at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University's Butler Library (RBML) for future generations to enjoy.
Recognition includes:
Showcase in the online Winners Gallery;
Official press release distributed to leading industry outlets and media providers;
Official digital assets, including competition logo for winners to self-promote;
Coverage on AIGA social media channels;
Coverage in AIGA newsletters.
Visit contact information and FAQs. Office hours for support are 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ET Friday, (excluding holidays).
There are three deadlines and member discounts to create multiple pathways for participation while also covering the costs of producing a competition at this scale, including admin, marketing and communications, platform fees, designer fees, and more. By entering early you save more and help us prepare for the judging phase.
AIGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest contemporary membership association for design, AIGA connects and builds community through awards, advocacy, education, research, writing, and resources for every career stage. All entry fees support AIGA’s programs and move our mission forward.
Call for Entries Cycle
Call for Entries Open
December 12, 2025
Call for Entries Close
April 27, 2026
As a jury, we had the unique opportunity to view 523 entries from practitioners working in the book design field. It is encouraging that designers continue to be interested in this medium and are currently developing new ways of working with publishers and printers to push our discipline further. It was a difficult task to narrow the entries down to 100 winners."
JP Haynie
Juror Chair, 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024
![[field.undefined]](/sites/default/files/styles/one_fourth_width_320/public/2025-10/jp-haynie.png?itok=W1V9FvIl "JP Haynie")
Winners Gallery
50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024
“As a jury, we had the unique opportunity to view 523 entries from practitioners working in the book design field. It is encouraging that designers continue to be interested in this medium to push our discipline further.” —JP Haynie, AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024 Juror Chair
Explore the GalleryThe exciting part about opening any new book for the first time is the power it has to influence your relationship to typography or images—by its placement, position or scale on a single page.
Kelly Walters
50 Books | 50 Covers of 2025 Juror
![[field.undefined]](/sites/default/files/styles/one_fourth_width_320/public/2026-02/kelly_walters.png?itok=pZRHEVRb "Kelly Walters")
Explore More AIGA Competitions
Want to be recognized for design work outside of book and book cover design? Learn more about 365: AIGA Year in Design, AIGA's historic competition to celebrate designers across all categories. 2025 Call for Entries coming soon!
