AIGA Presents 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024: The Exhibition

Celebrating 2024 Winners in New York City, Call for Entries for 2025 Now Open

NEW YORK-AIGA, the professional association for design, proudly presents 50 Books | 50 Covers The Exhibition, a four-day celebration showcasing the 2024 winners of AIGA's 50 Books | 50 Covers, one of the most prestigious competitions in publishing design.

Founded in 1923, the annual AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers competition recognizes the 50 most beautifully designed books and 50 book covers published each year. The works on view in this exhibition represent the finest books and covers published in 2024, selected by an expert jury for their excellence in typography, composition, materials, production, and overall design achievement.

This exhibition at Pratt Institute offers a rare opportunity to experience these award-winning books as physical objects. Guests are invited to flip through pages, examine paper stocks and bindings, study typography and finishes, and fully appreciate the material and conceptual decisions that distinguish exceptional publishing design.

"This exhibition reminds us that the book is not just a vessel for content, it is a fully immersive design experience," said Dr. Gaia Hwang, Chairperson, Graduate Communications Design, Pratt Institute. "Here, form, language, and material collide in ways that surprise and move us. The selected works reveal the extraordinary precision, craft, and imagination shaping contemporary publishing design today."

"Organizing this exhibition allows us to elevate the physical craft of publishing in a digital age," said Giulia Donatello, Lead Organizer of the Exhibition and Design Competitions and Events Manager at AIGA. "We designed this space to highlight the tactile decisions that define exceptional books. These selections represent the highest standard of global design, and bringing them to Pratt Institute reinforces our commitment to the design community."

Celebrate the 2024 Winners:
50 Books | 50 Covers The Exhibition Opening Night Reception

Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Opening Night: March 19, 2026
5:30 PM - Doors Open
6:30-7:30 PM - Panel Discussion
7:30-8:30 PM - Cocktails & Networking

Opening Night features a live panel discussion with leading voices in book and editorial design, offering insight into the jury process and the creative thinking behind the 2024 selections. Supporting sponsors of this event include Penguin Random House and Arctic Paper.

Live Panel Speakers:
• Scott VanderZee, Designer & Educator, Pratt Institute & Parsons-The New School
• Alex Lin, Founder, Studio Lin
• Jonathan Key, Partner, Morcos Key
• Perrin Drumm, Head of Publishing, A24 Films
• Caroline Harrison, Illustrator & Artist

Tickets can be purchased on AIGA's website.

Now Accepting Entries: 50 Books | 50 Covers 2025

While the exhibition celebrates the 2024 honorees, the next chapter is already underway. The call for entries for 50 Books | 50 Covers 2025 is now open, with the Regular Deadline approaching on March 16, 2026.

Designers and publishers with books or covers published in 2025 are invited to submit their work for consideration. Selected winners will be announced in 2026 and featured in next year's exhibition and added to the permanent collection. The competition is open internationally and continues AIGA's nearly century-long tradition of recognizing design excellence in publishing.

Through programs like 50 Books | 50 Covers, AIGA advances its mission to champion design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. The competition not only honors outstanding work but also fosters dialogue, elevates emerging and established voices, and connects the global design community.

Members receive discounted access to exhibitions and programming, along with year-round professional development resources, networking opportunities, and recognition platforms. Learn more about AIGA Membership.

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Media Contact

Michelle Koenigsknecht

AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, AIGA brings together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create a collective vision for the future. AIGA defines global standards and ethical practices, guides design education, inspires designers and the public, enhances professional development, and makes powerful tools and resources accessible to all.