Best designed Croatian books published in 2021 selected for “Best Book Design from all over the World” competition and “Book Art International“ exhibition
The National and University Library in Zagreb selected best designed 2021 Croatian books as part of the national best book design competition (Hrvatska lijepa knjiga) that it organises every year. The selected books will enter two major book events in Europe – the international Best Book Design from all over the World competition, which is held every year as part of the Leipzig Book Fair, and the Book Art International exhibition, traditionally taking place as part of the world-famous Frankfurt Book Fair.
The national competition is annually organised as part of a larger, international competition, launched every year by the German Book Art Foundation (Stiftung Buchkunst) with the aim of promoting the greatest creative accomplishments of art editors, graphic artists and printers all around the world.
Out of altogether 175 entries submitted during this year’s competition, a judging panel consisting of an academic painter, graphic artist and professional cameraman Luka Gusić, academic painter and graphic artist Danijel Srdarev, Associate Professor at the University of Osijek Academy of Arts and Culture Nives Tomašević and Senior Librarian and Curator at the NSK Print Collection Vesna Vlašić, selected the following 17 titles, listed here in alphabetical order:
A PUNCH IN THE EYE
Author: Sanja Iveković
Illustrations: Sanja Iveković
Design/Graphic design: Nina Bačun, Roberta Bratović
Publisher: Oaza Books
BIZARNE PRIPOVIJESTI
Author: Olga Tokarczuk
Design/Graphic design: Klara Rusan/Maja Glušić
Publisher: Fraktura
DANTE: ROMAN O NJEGOVU ŽIVOTU
Author: Marco Santagata
Illustrations: Giotto di Bondone
Design/Graphic design: Nikša Eršek
Publisher: Sandorf
DIVNI SVIJETE, GDJE SI
Author: Sally Rooney
Design/Graphic design: Hana Vrca/Maja Glušić
Publisher: Fraktura
DRVOLAŠI
Author: Tihomir Dunđerović
Design/Graphic design: Hrvoje Duvnjak
Publisher: Gradska knjižnica i čitaonica Đakovo
FIUME FANTASTIKA
Authors: Vedran Mimica, Maroje Mrduljaš, Idis Turato
Design/Graphic design: Maša Poljanec, Leo Kirinčić
Publishers: Sveučilište u Rijeci, Oaza Books
KARTOGRAFIJA LJUBAVI: DUNAVOM
Author: Helena Sablić Tomić
Design/Graphic design: Ana Pojatina
Publisher: Naklada Ljevak
MALE SMRTI
Author: Ivana Sajko
Design/Graphic design: Klara Rusan/Maja Glušić
Publisher: Fraktura
MOJA BAKA NE ZNA TKO SAM
Author: Iva Bezinović-Haydon
Illustrations: Hana Tintor
Design/Graphic design: Ana Vujasić
Publisher: Ibis grafika
OLUJNI KOMPAS
Author: Željko Brguljan
Illustrations: Željko Brguljan
Design/Graphic design: Mario Aničić
Publishers: Ogranak Matice hrvatske u Boki kotorskoj and Željko Brguljan
PAGRADOTOK
Author: Damir Fabijanić
Design/Graphic design: Damir Fabijanić
Publisher: FAB d.o.o.
PICCOLA CON PICCOLO
Author: Bruno Mezić
Illustrations: Klasja Habjan
Design/Graphic design: Klasja Habjan
Publisher: Mala zvona
RONJENJE NA DAH
Author: Miroslav Mićanović
Design/Graphic design: Bestias
Publisher: Meandar Media
THE NO.1 BIRDTAILING DETECTIVE AGENCY
Author: Marko Pogačar
Illustrations: Stefhany Yepes Lozano
Design/Graphic design: Nina Bačun, Roberta Bratović
Publisher: Oaza Books
TIŠINE
Author: Nikolina Manojlović Vračar
Illustrations: Nikolina Manojlović Vračar
Design/Graphic design: Zrinka Horvat
Publisher: Mala zvona
ZADAR – OBNOVA I IZGRADNJA NAKON RAZARANJA U DRUGOME SVJETSKOM RATU
Author: Antonija Mlikota
Design/Graphic design: Željka Sambolek Mikota, Tea Pavić
Publisher: Školska knjiga
ZALJUBLJENA U ČITAV SVIJET
Author: Olja Savičević Ivančević
Illustrations: Ana Kovačić
Design/Graphic design: Tea Pavić
Publisher: Školska knjiga
After the international presentation of the greatest achievements in book design from across the world as part of the Leipzig and Frankfurt book fairs, all selected books will be included among the holdings of the German Museum of Books and Writing, which operates as part of the German National Library.
The National and University Library in Zagreb congratulates the authors, designers, illustrators and publishers of the winning titles and thanks all who took part in the competition.

Best designed Croatian books published in 2021 selected for “Best Book Design from all over the World” competition and “Book Art International“ exhibition. Photo by: Sonja Hrelja.