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Whether you want to publish your next bestseller, distribute your titles across the globe, or simply print copies as and when you need them, bookvault is the tool for you. 


DESIGNER OF THE YEAR MICAELA ALCAINO


THE PORTFOLIO


THE SHORTLIST


Tom Etherington FREELANCE


Jon Gray FREELANCE


Greg Heinimann BLOOMSBURY


Mark Read SPCK


Rafaela Romaya CANONGATE


Rachel Vale MACMILLAN CHILDRENS BOOKS


Claire Ward HARPERCOLLINS


M


icaela Alcaino, the second winner of the Designer of the Year award since it was established at last year’s online-only event, creates covers


and illustrations that are irresistible to book buyers. As the British Book Awards judges put it: “She turns books into works of art.” After developing her style at Penguin


Random House and HarperCollins, Alcaino went freelance in 2018, and now works for many more publishers besides, marrying jackets brilliantly to the texts and tones of her books. In 2021, that approach was seen to glorious effect in Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne, where the cover took cues from Greek art; in the elaborate details for Jay Kristoff’s fantasy novel Empire of the Vampire; and on a fresh brand identity with a commercial bent for Lucy Diamond. Testimonials from publishers, authors, agents and retailers speak to Alcaino’s flair for


covers that are both on-trend and in-genre, and that stand out on crowded shelves. They lauded her collaborative approach and exten- sive research, and traced a direct link between the quality of her designs and sales figures. “Micaela has a unique way of capturing the pure essence of the story and conveying it in a way that is magical, captivating and wholly original,” said one glowing testimonial. “Her versatility is amazing—if you saw her


books lined up then you would never guess they were from the same designer,” the judges added. “The covers draw you in and make you want to buy and keep them.” The panel particularly admired her work on Kirsty Capes’ début novel Careless, where a bold, colourful and minimal cover appealed to both literary and mass-market audiences. “Getting the jacket right was every- thing for that book, and she absolutely nailed it… she changed its fortunes,” they said.


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