Publishing is one of our most successful business categories. Designers can select one of our materials, allowing them to create and tell a story through design that will appeal to prospective readers/consumers. Using our beautiful materials carefully crafting a look that captures the readers interest and imagination to make them delve into reading. The attractive colours, feel/touch of our materials can draw the reader in making it both beautiful and practical as a book covering.
The Brief
Using one of our Winter materials as the base to create an engaging and enticing design for a book:
- Decide on the book title (it can be anything you like: an existing favourite or a new creation)
- Select the base material (support is available through the Winter & Company UK Ltd website)
- Choose how you would recreate your design on the book cover (some materials can be printed both offset and digitally others can only be foiled)
- Design and visually present the story board of the finished cover, with specification of the finishings.
- Use a range of finishes to create interest – deboss – foil – print
- Balance of material and design ( paper can be seen against the design)
- Incorporate sustainable story for material and design
- Material suitable for the product
Wibalin® Natural or Recycled as a starting point – we will supply samples to enable you to visualise how you would like to innovate and elevate.
The material selection should bring the book title to life, adding depth to the story, or providing the appropriate quality cues. The finishing specifications should be appropriate to the covering materials that has been selected. The details of the specification should be clearly marked up.
Entry Guidelines
Entries must include uploads of the developments boards
- No model required.
- To visualise the texture/inclusion on how you believe it should look/feel.
- Access to the Winter & Company UK Ltd on the website will help to visualise the final outcome.
The 4 A3 development boards uploaded as a single PDF document should include the following:
- Research board
- Design exploration board
- Net of recommended design solution.
Development boards must not show the entrant’s name or university/college.
- The project names submitted at the time of entry will be printed as typed, if there are any errors and certificates/trophies need replacing, then the entrant will be liable for these costs.
- If you are not able to attend the ceremony in person or the ceremony becomes virtual, certificates and trophies will be sent by post to the entrants to the mailing address listed in the entry in early July 2026.
- Please make sure you have access to the mailing address past term times. If you are unsure, please enter your home address.
- IOM3 is unable to issue replacements for certificates/trophies sent to wrong addresses.
- The entry fee is £20 per entry.
- You will be invoiced for the entry payment once you have submitted your entry. If you have indicated that your college/university is paying for your entry, please ignore the invoice directed at you as another invoice will be sent directly to your college/university.
- The invoice will be received by Monday 30 March 2026 at the very latest and the deadline for payment is Friday1 May 2026. If your invoice is not paid, your entry will not be shortlisted for judging.
About the Entry
Judging criteria
Brief A Judges
Prize
IOM3 presents trophies to Gold, Silver and Bronze and certificates to Highly Commended entries.
About the Sponsor
Winter & Company is a global supplier of innovative and sustainable cover materials for the packaging and publishing industry. We empower brands and cultivate creativity. This 4th generation family business provides beautiful cover materials across paper, leather, cloth and high touch materials.