GDLOFT Wins AIGA’s 50 Books | 50 Covers Award for Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America

We’re thrilled to share that GDLOFT has been recognized in AIGA’s 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024 competition for our cover design of Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America.

About the Award

First established in 1923 as the Fifty Books of the Year competition, AIGA’s 50 Books | 50 Covers is one of the most prestigious design competitions in the field of bookmaking. Each year, it celebrates the 50 best-designed books and book covers, highlighting projects that push the boundaries of visual storytelling and design excellence.

We’re honored to be part of this long-standing tradition that continues to elevate and celebrate the power of design in print.

About the Project

Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America was a landmark exhibition jointly presented by the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Featuring the work of 20 contemporary artists, the exhibition explored a central question in American history: Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy?

At a time when perspectives across the U.S. are increasingly divergent, the exhibition invited viewers to reflect on how art can inspire us to question, connect, and expand our understanding of what America means today.

Design Concept

The cover design embodies this spirit of reflection and transformation. Using an abstracted photograph as its foundation, the palette transitions from warm oranges, yellows, and reds into cooler tones of blue and purple, symbolizing both uncertainty and hope.

The minimalist layout and subtle layering create a sense of depth and complexity, echoing the exhibition’s nuanced themes. Production details such as blind embossing and clear matte foil stamping give the cover an ever-changing surface, its appearance shifting depending on light and perspective. This dynamic quality serves as a visual metaphor for the fluid nature of identity, perception, and democracy itself.

Printed on uncoated board with a fold-out design, the catalog invites a tactile interaction. The embossed typography encourages the viewer to engage not only visually, but physically, reminding us that understanding and progress require both touch and attention.

Reflection

Designing Rising Sun was an opportunity to translate the exhibition’s powerful ideas into an equally thoughtful object. We’re proud that this work has been recognized by AIGA among some of the most compelling book designs of the year, and grateful to the curators, artists, and collaborators who made the project possible.

Explore the full list of winners and the 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2024 gallery on AIGA’s website.