Book art Federal Office of Culture selects the 20 most beautiful Swiss books of 2024

20 books honored for their design: The Federal Office of Culture (BAK) has chosen the most beautiful books of 2024. This year's Jan Tschichold Prize for the best book design goes to Vela Arbutina from Zurich.

Keystone-SDA

20.03.2025, 11:01

SDA

The five-member jury assessed a total of 362 books from the past year and has now awarded prizes to the 20 books that demonstrate "exceptional quality and high standards", the BAK announced on Thursday. The jury paid particular attention to works that "express contemporary trends".

These most beautiful Swiss books will be presented to the public in Switzerland next June (June 13 to 22) at the Helmhaus in Zurich. From September onwards, this exhibition will be shown at around twenty other venues in Switzerland and abroad. Before that, it will be presented at the Leipzig Book Fair (March 27 to 30).

The BAK would also like to point out that one of these most beautiful Swiss books has also won an international award as one of the "Most Beautiful Books from Around the World": "Hidden Heartache", edited by Simona Keller and published by Jungle Books Verlag in St. Gallen, was awarded a bronze medal by the Stiftung Buchkunst in Leipzig in February. This book was one of 550 from 32 countries.

Prize for graphic designer from Zurich

The BAK also awards the Jan Tschichold Prize to an individual, group or institution for outstanding achievements in book design. This year's award, worth 25,000 Swiss francs, goes to freelance graphic designer Vela Arbutina from Zurich. Five of her works were among the "Most Beautiful Swiss Books" from 2013 to 2024.

"Through wit and sophistication, the artist creates a deep insight into her themes," said the jury, explaining its decision. It also recognized Arbutina's commitment to a "demanding industry that is also going through difficult economic times". Arbutina will receive the Jan Tschichold Prize at the opening of the exhibition "The Most Beautiful Swiss Books" at Helmhaus Zurich on June 13.