News — Oct 8, 2014

Amsterdam, October 8, 2014 — Each year, the Stedelijk Museum and the Stichting De Best Verzorgde Boeken present the most distinguished book designs of the past year. A total of 309 book designs were submitted for the 2013 contest; of which 33 finalists were selected. Their submissions will go on display on October 25 in the heart of the design circuit at the Stedelijk Museum.

The exhibition presents publications that feature outstanding design, typography, visual flow and technical graphic production, and a harmonious balance between form and content. The selection includes publications from renowned publishing houses, museum catalogues, commemorative corporate publications and rare self-published volumes.

The expert jury responsible for this year’s selection of designs comprised publisher Hanca Leppink, graphic designers Marlies Visser and Hans Bockting, printing advisor Johan Holterman, and Bregitta Kramer, lecturer, print coordinator and book binder. 

Among the selected titles of 2013 are:
The architecture of the book (standard size and XXL edition), designed by Irma Boom (Lecturis, Eindhoven); De grachten van Amsterdam, designed by Lex Reitsma, in collaboration with Tessa van der Eem, Julian Kleyn, Ruben Daas (Explanation Design) and Bas van Vuurde (Uitgeverij THOTH, Bussum, Kunsthistorisch Bureau D'ARTS, Noordeinde); Zeven pogingen om een geliefde te wekken, designed by Nico Richter with illustrations by Ineke Riem (De Arbeiderspers); Jurriaan Schrofer, Ph.D. thesis by Frederike Huygen, designed by Karel Martens (interior and cover) in collaboration with Jaap van Triest; Vía Pan Am by Kadir van Lohuizen, designed by Heijdens Karwei (Ydoc Publishing, Paradox, Edam).

The exhibition of The Best Dutch Book Designs has a long-standing tradition at the Stedelijk Museum. The inaugural presentation was mounted in 1932, after which the exhibition has been held annually, with a few exceptions. The Dutch Best Verzorgde Boeken is the oldest contest of its kind in Europe to be judged by an expert jury.

The majority of the books featured in the presentation are on sale in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam shop: Buchhandlung Walther König.

The Best Dutch Book Designs 2013 is generously supported by Antalis, Almere, BNO/Pictoright, Amsterdam and L. van Heek Textiles.

Note for editors:
For more information and visual material, please contact Annematt Ruseler, Stedelijk Museum Press Office on 020 – 573 2660 or pressoffice@stedelijk.nl.