Kalee Jackson, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery’s Graphic Designer has been shortlisted for this year’s Awa Press Young Designer of the Year Award, a major feature of the Publishers Association of New Zealand Book Design Awards.

This prestigious award recognises emerging talent in the field of book design and only three designers have been shortlisted.

Jackson designs books that feature primarily New Zealand artists. Her nomination was due to her outstanding work with the Len Lye publication, the Francis Upritchard publication for the Venice Biennale 2009, as well as exhibition catalogues for The Sacred Hart: Terry Urbahn and New Nature.

Rhana Devenport, Gallery Director said today;

“Kalee Jackson’s intelligent and inspired design work continues to offer great strength and momentum to the Gallery’s important role as art publisher. Jackson demonstrates great sensitivity and vision for a designer of such tender years and she is a strong contributor to the Gallery’s success nationally and internationally. It’s excellent to see her talent acknowledged on the national stage.”

Jackson experiments with bold colour use, tactility of paper, pace, and how interaction between image and text come into play in communicating the particular message of a book's content. She uses design as an opportunity to reflect on and respond to an exhibition or artist's work, while remaining sensitive to the intentions of the artist.

Jackson is thrilled to be considered, “As book design becomes an increasingly significant and enjoyable part of my practice, I'm very pleased to be considered for this award." 

Designers under 35 years of age present a portfolio of book designs to be considered for the award. These are judged on artistic merit, innovation of form and appropriateness to the intended market. The judges particularly look for consistent design across a whole portfolio, which Jackson clearly demonstrated.

The winner will be announced at the Publisher’s Association of New Zealand Book Design Awards ceremony in Auckland on 22 July.