The Penguin Random House Art Directors look through all the submitted designs and together decide which will proceed to the shortlist. At that point they do not have sight of the entrant’s name or any of the details submitted on the entry form, just the design.
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2026 Cover Design Award
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
'Don't put your trust in revolutions. They always come round again. That's why they're called revolutions. People die, and nothing changes.'
Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is in hot pursuit of a serial killer. The trouble is, a well-timed lightning strike has thrown both policeman and pursued into the city’s past. Now Vimes must relive the history that made him: a cruel regime, a bloody revolution, a corrupt police force, and, most unnerving of all, a keen young recruit named Sam Vimes…
Night Watch, which draws on inspirations as far ranging as Victor Hugo and MAS*H, is a keen satire about the true nature of political power, and the sacrifices made in the name of the greater good; but also a profoundly empathetic novel about community, connection and the tenacity of the human spirit.
A gloriously inventive and funny fantasy novel from bestselling author Terry Pratchett, which is the sixth book in the City Watch series, part of the Discworld novels.
The brief
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels are among the most successful and influential fantasy titles of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Originally published in 2002, Night Watch became a Penguin Classic in 2025, reflecting its far-reaching legacy and fanbase.
We would like you to design a new cover for Night Watch that reflects how the book is firmly embedded in the fantasy genre, while also engaging with its razor-sharp political and moral themes. It should feel timeless, imaginative, and engaging to fantasy fans and new audiences alike.
Your cover design needs to include all the cover copy supplied and be designed to the Penguin standard design template, incorporating the Penguin branding and all additional elements such as the barcode. Please refer to the submission details page for full details and downloads.
Copyright must be cleared for all images used in your cover design and you must include a credit line on the back cover of your design for any third-party images used; for example: ‘Cover photograph by Allen Lane’.
Read the book before you start designing
We recommend that you read the book before you start on your design to get a sense of the themes, characters and the author’s voice. Night Watch is stocked in most bookshops and libraries and is available in both audiobook and eBook formats.
What the judges are looking for in a winning design
We are looking for a striking cover design that is well executed, has an imaginative concept and clearly places the book for its market.
While all elements of the cover (front, back and spine) need to work together, remember that the front cover has to be able to work on its own, and to be eye-catching within a crowded bookshop setting as well as on screen at a reduced size for digital retailers.
The winning design will need to:
- Be able to sit on the shelves of a supermarket or eBook store as easily as it sits in more traditional bookshops
- Have an imaginative concept
- Be an original interpretation of the brief
- Be competently executed with strong use of typography
- Appeal to the broadest possible audience for the book
- Show a good understanding of the marketplace
- Have a point of difference from other books that it will be competing against in the market
The prizes
1st Prize
The first prize winner of each of the two categories will receive a six-month-long mentorship programme with a member of the Penguin Art Department (dates to be confirmed). They will also receive a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium tablet and Penguin design books to the value of £100.
2nd Prize
The second-prize winners of each category will receive a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium tablet and Penguin books to the value of £100.
3rd Prize
The third-prize winners of each category will receive a Wacom Intuos Medium tablet and Penguin books to the value of £100.
The judges
FAQs
How is the shortlist selected?
Can I work with an illustrator or a photographer?
Yes, but we can only award one prize to the named entrant. Copyright must be cleared for all images used in your cover design and you must include a credit line on the back cover of your design for any third-party images used.
I'm not sure how to set up a template, can you help?
Take a look at the template jargon buster page.
Are there any restrictions to the fonts I can use in my design?
You can use any font that you wish in your design.
The normal copyright rules around font usage apply to your work and it’s your sole responsibility to ensure that you have the correct permissions to use them in your design.
I don’t have the fonts that are specified on the templates, can I use an alternative font that is closely matched?
Yes, you can use an alternative font as long as you have the correct permissions to use it.
Can I enter more than one submission?
You can enter a maximum of one entry (three designs).
Can I share my design on social media?
We love seeing your interpretations of the Cover Design Award briefs on social media – spread the word about your work! If you choose to share your designs, please include: #PRHDesignAward hashtag and tag @PenguinUKBooks / Penguin Random House UK.
Can I use generative AI in my design?
The Cover Design Award encourages originality from aspiring creatives, and therefore we will not be accepting entries that include any elements created using generative AI.
Will the winning designs be printed to sell in bookshops?
The Cover Design Award is a portfolio development opportunity; the work submitted will not be used in any published works.
In some cases, we do work with the shortlisted designers on published books. For that, we work with the designers as we would do any freelancers.
Any work entered into the Cover Design Award is owned by the entrant.
How do I find out about job opportunities at Penguin Random House?
Visit the design careers section on our website.
Still have questions?
Email us at mail@penguinrandomhousedesignaward.co.uk