AIGA Design Archives

This text-only record is part of the interactive AIGA Design Archives where you can view more details, zoom into images and explore other works in the definitive online resource on American design.

Design Category
Book design, 2003
Design firm
Vintage Books (New York, New York)
Collection
(2004) 50 Books/50 Covers of 2003

Description

Published yearly since 1919, O Henry Prize Stories is a juried selection of the best short story writing from a given year. This is the latest redesign of the series. The O. seemed like an obvious starting point and something that can remain identifiable (though I claim to know nothing about branding) in the upcoming years or at least until its time to update the look again. There are also little bits of metallic foil thrown in to acknowledge the “award” factor.

Credits
Art director: John Gall
Jacket designer: John Gall
Editor: Laura Furman
Publisher: Anchor Books
Trim size: 5 3/16 x 8”
Pages: 366
Quantity printed: 25,000
Typefaces: Bodoni, Franklin Gothic
Jacket printer: Coral Graphics
Book type: Literature and nonfiction
Juror Notes

“Quietly refined example of a collection’s series cover. The spot metallic and delicate colors finally won us over.” Cheryl Towler Weese