The deadline for entries is Tuesday 3 March 2020 at 2.00pm.

All entries must be submitted as a PDF via the submission form which will be made available on this page on Monday 4 December 2019. Entries submitted in any other way, including by email or hard-copy, will not be accepted.

Please name your PDF with your full name and the award category for example: Joe_Bloggs_NonFiction

Entries must be supplied in the following format:

• PDF
• 300dpi
• CMYK
• 5mm bleed
• Crop marks to be included
• Maximum file size 5 MB

Please include the front cover only on the first page of your PDF and a full cover spread (front, spine and back cover) on the second page of your PDF (supplied as one document) – as illustrated in this example.

Make sure to use the design template and cover copy supplied for each category brief:

Fiction Cover Award: The Night Manager

Design template (InDesign) / Design template (idml)

Design Template (PDF)

Cover copy
 

Non-Fiction Cover Award: A Short History of Nearly Everything

Design template (InDesign) / Design template (idml)

Links for InDesign

Design Template (PDF)

Cover copy

Children’s Cover Award: Goodnight Mister Tom

Design template (InDesign) / Design template (idml)

Links for InDesign

Design Template (PDF)

Cover copy

Shortlisted entrants will be notified in writing by Wednesday 28 April 2020. To proceed to the next stage of the competition they will be asked to resubmit their entry following feedback and further art direction from the Penguin Random House Art Directors. The closing date for the shortlisted entrants' resubmissions is 5.00pm (GMT) on Wednesday 13 May 2020.

Shortlisted entrants will be required to provide the following support material for their final submission:

• An A3 board showing the full jacket to scale 1:1.
• The design mocked-up on three copies of the book (which Penguin Random House will supply).
• A short, typewritten text (max. 50—100 words only) submitted as a Word document, explaining the concept for your design.
• An A3 board demonstrating the development of the thought process from the original research to the final concept. A digital copy must also be supplied.
• A high resolution PDF and Jpeg of the front cover and full cover design with and without bleed.

By submitting an entry, you agree to the competition Terms and Conditions.