Judging a book by its cover …

Matt Jones, from Oakengates, Telford, has reached the finals of the prestigious Penguin Design Award 2010.

The 23-year-old created an innovative and contemporary cover design for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Matt, who is a third year BA (Hons) Illustration student, will be attending the award ceremony at the Penguin Books offices in central London on Wednesday, June 23 2010.

Matt’s design was shortlisted in the Puffin Children’s Prize category and the brief asked students to reinvent the classic book for a new generation.

Prizes range from cash up to £1,000 and the opportunity to have a month’s work placement in the design department of Puffin Books.

John Clementson, Illustration subject leader from the School of Art & Design, said: “Matt has produced a great cover design for ‘Alice’. It’s an incredibly difficult brief to bring something new to a book that is indelibly etched in the collective subconscious. Matt’s cover has a simplicity, elegance and sophistication that delivers a different and more contemporary dimension to the character.

“The Illustration team are delighted for Matt and we are also really pleased that for the second year in succession we have a student who has got to this stage of a prestigious national competition.”

The brief stated the judges were looking for a striking cover design, an imaginative concept and something that would appeal to both adults and children.

The judges for the competition include Francesca Dow, Managing Director of Puffin Books and writer Charlie Higson.

ENDS

Picture: Matt Jones’s design for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736