The Most Beautiful Polish Books 2025

A book reveals its full character when it is approached as a whole: a medium of content and image, a material object, a space of reading and a form of visual culture. Its meaning unfolds in the relation between text and page composition, in the rhythm of spreads, the proportions of margins, the choice of typeface, the texture of paper, colour, binding and the handling of images. Each of these elements participates in the construction of meaning. The exhibition The Most Beautiful Polish Books 2025 presents publications awarded and distinguished in the 66th edition of the competition organised by the Polish Book Publishers Association since 1957. From its inception, the competition has emphasised the importance of editorial and graphic development as an essential part of the book. At its centre is design understood as work on the relation between idea, text, image, material and production. This year’s edition brings together books of varied functions, scales and formal strategies: literary, scholarly, artistic, album, children’s, popular science and bibliophile publications. Some are defined by discipline, restraint and clarity of composition; others by experimental boldness, visual intensity, or a play with scale, rhythm and matter. In the strongest works, form gains an inner justification: it arises from the content, guides the act of reading, sets its tempo and deepens the experience of reception. The 66th edition of the competition brought together 152 publishing houses, which submitted a total of 304 books. The jury awarded 7 equal prizes, an Honorary Award and 54 distinctions. The scale of this year’s edition confirms the vitality of Polish book culture and the importance of the competition as a platform for recognising outstanding achievements in editing, design and print production. The exhibition reminds us that the book remains one of the most demanding and capacious media of contemporary culture. It is a site of collaboration between designers, editors, publishers, printers and binders. In their work, technical precision meets imagination, and decisions that may appear discreet determine the character of the whole. In a world saturated with messages, the beautifully designed book establishes its own order of attention. It restores the significance of proportion, tempo and material contact with content. It allows culture to be read, viewed and experienced through a form in which thought finds its shape. About the Competition The Polish Association of Book Publishers' "Most Beautiful Polish Books" competition has been organized since 1957. Its goal remains to promote the high editorial standard of Polish books in Poland and abroad and to emphasize the importance of design, typography, and production quality in shaping the book as a whole. In recent years, publications awarded and distinguished in the competition have become increasingly present in the international book market. They participate in the "Best Book Design from all over the World" competition in Leipzig and in accompanying exhibitions and presentations. Books from this and previous editions of the competition have also become part of the collections of the German Museum of Books and Writing at the German National Library in Leipzig. Exhibitions presenting awarded and distinguished publications also remain a significant part of the competition's activities. The previous, 65th edition of the PTWK Competition was dedicated to three exhibitions: "The Most Beautiful Polish Books 2024" at the Bęc Zmiana bookstore, on view from May 31 to August 31, 2025; and "World Book Design" at the Tokyo Museum of Printing, on view from December 13, 2025 to March 22, 2026. The third exhibition was "Beautiful Books," on view from February 20 to March 21, 2026, at the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. The exhibition featured publications that received awards and distinctions in the PTWK competition, as well as student projects from the Book Design Studio at the Faculty of Graphic Arts, Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. The Tokyo "World Book Design" exhibition featured publications awarded in the "Best Book Design from All Over the World" competition in February 2025, including Polish books honored with two bronze medals, as well as all publications awarded and honored in the 65th edition of the PTWK "Most Beautiful Polish Books 2024" competition. The exhibition consisted of approximately 180 publications, including books from the latest edition of the Japan Book Design Awards and winners of national competitions for the most beautiful books from Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, China, and Portugal. Preliminary Jury: Zosia Dzierżawska, Magdalena Frankowska, Dr. Katarzyna Kasia, Dr. Aleksandra Kot, Andrzej Tomaszewski, Anna Wandzel-Gubańska Main Jury: Dr. Katarzyna Kasia - Chairperson, Zosia Dzierżawska, Magdalena Frankowska, Dr. Aleksandra Kot, Dr. Zofia Oslislo-Piekarska, Filip Pągowski, Andrzej Tomaszewski, Anna Wandzel-Gubańska 66th Competition of the Polish Association of Book Publishers The Most Beautiful Polish Books 2025 Awards, Distinctions and Nominations Section I – Fiction AWARD Komary – Kamil Kawalec cover and title-page design, typographic design, typesetting and layout: Paweł Stasiewicz publisher: Wydawnictwo CONVIVO Anna Matysiak DISTINCTIONS Ao Manao – Krzysztof Pietrala illustrations, graphic design and typesetting: Honza Zamojski publisher: Wydawnictwo METH, Poznań Autobiografia na cztery ręce – Jerzy Giedroyc edited and supervised by Andrzej Peciak graphic concept, design and typography: Krzysztof Rumowski publisher: Instytut Europy Środkowej co-publisher: Instytut Literacki Kultura Bajki robotów • Cyberiada – Stanisław Lem graphic design: Przemek Dębowski illustrations: Daniel Mróz publisher: Wydawnictwo Karakter, Kraków Dunaj. Chyłe pola – Małgorzata Lebda graphic design and typesetting: Kira Pietrek publisher: Wrocławski Dom Literatury i Wydawnictwo WARSTWY, Wrocław Nasze pragnienia są związane – Wojciech Kosma editorial and visual supervision: Diana Krawiec (Dobromiła Dobro) graphic design of the poems: Basia Strzeżek graphic design of the series and typesetting: Michał Siciński / @pktwidz publisher: Staromiejski Dom Kultury, Warszawa 5 – Szymon Bira graphic design and typesetting: Karolina Maria Wiśniewska publisher: Fundacja na rzecz Kultury i Edukacji im. Tymoteusza Karpowicza, Wrocław Przemówienia, covery i featuringi – Paweł Stasiewicz graphic design and typesetting: Paweł Stasiewicz publisher: Wydawnictwo CONVIVO Anna Matysiak Sleigh Ride – Joe Fletcher graphic design: Damian Nowak illustrations: Mikołaj Moskal publisher: Wydawnictwo Bored Wolves, Kraków VHS. Przewińmy to jeszcze raz – Przemek Corso, PigOut cover and box design: Michał Poniedzielski interior graphic design: Ewa Wójcik publisher: Wydawnictwo Prószyński Media, Warszawa Section II. Scientific literature and popular science (humanities, mathematics and natural sciences) AWARD Fitoglosje. Słownik roślinno-ludzkich spoufaleń – edited by Joanna Soćko, Paweł Szeibel, Joanna Zdzienicka-Obałek graphic design and typesetting: Anna Kopaczewska publisher: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Katowicach co-publisher: Biblioteka Śląska DISTINCTIONS Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. Architektura rozwoju – edited by Radosław Milczarski graphic design and typesetting: Ryszard Bienert image prepress: Tomasz Kubaczyk publisher: Narodowy Instytut Architektury i Urbanistyki, Warszawa Co robi zdjęcie? – edited by Bartosz Flak, Martyna Nowicka, Agnieszka Olszewska; translation of David Campany’s essay in Do: Anna Skucińska graphic design, typesetting and prepress: Joanna Jopkiewicz / Grupa Projektor publisher: Muzeum Fotografii w Krakowie co-publisher: Wydawnictwo Czarne, Sękowa Day, ut ia pobrusa a ti poziwai – Anna Wieluńska graphic design: Anna Wieluńska publisher: Anna Wieluńska, Warszawa HOTEL TWOICH SNÓW. Architektura hotelowa wielkomiejskiej Polski doby Edwarda Gierka HOTEL OF YOUR DREAMS. Hotel Architecture of Polish Cities During the Edward Gierek Era – edited by Artur Tanikowski graphic design, typesetting and image prepress: Marcin Władyka / studio headmade publisher: Narodowy Instytut Architektury i Urbanistyki, Warszawa Kuchnie warszawskie. Od mieszczańskich stołów do nowej gastronomii – edited by Lena Ignaczak, Zuzanna Różańska-Tuta graphic design, typesetting and image prepress: Aleksandra Nałęcz-Jawecka, Tomasz Kędzierski / TO STUDIO publisher: Muzeum Warszawy Modernistyczna architektura wschodniokarpackich uzdrowisk. Dawne województwa lwowskie i stanisławowskie – dr Weronika Grzesiak graphic design, typesetting, illustrations and maps: Weronika Reroń publisher: Narodowy Instytut Polskiego Dziedzictwa Kulturowego za Granicą POLONIKA, Warszawa Perebory. Odsłony – Agnieszka Mikszta graphic design and typesetting: Idalia Smyczyńska, Paweł Szarzyński, Robert Zając / kilku.com publisher: Muzeum Południowego Podlasia w Białej Podlaskiej Sposoby widzenia. Kolekcja Muzeum Sztuki w Łodzi. Antologia tekstów – edited volume and scholarly editing: Daniel Muzyczuk, Natalia Słaboń graphic, typesetting and image prepress: Kaja Kusztra publisher: Muzeum Sztuki w Łodzi Zabawki. Podróż do świata dzieciństwa w PRL-u – Maria Wieczorek graphic design and layout: Eurydyka Kata / re:design publisher: Ośrodek „Pamięć i Przyszłość”, Wrocław Zaproście mnie do stołu... Porcelana polska z manufaktur w Korcu i Baranówce na Wołyniu w zbiorach Muzeum Zamkowego w Malborku – Barbara Pospieszna cover design, typographic design and typesetting: Ryszard Bienert publisher: Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku Section III. Books for children and teenagers AWARD Jak to działało? Mechanizmy zamku w Malborku – text by Elżbieta Pałasz, based on Ryszard Rząd’s book „Jak to działało? Zabytkowe mechanizmy w zamku malborskim” illustrations: Agata Królak graphic design: Ryszard Bienert publication concept: Aleksandra Sobczak, Ryszard Bienert publisher: Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku DISTINCTIONS Dół – Artur Gębka illustrations: Agata Dudek / Acapulco Studio typographic and graphic design: Małgorzata Nowak-Żurek / Acapulco Studio publisher: Wydawnictwo WIDNOKRĄG, Piaseczno Mój świat, moja sztuka – Katarzyna Kołodziej-Podsiadło, Marta Ignerska editorial supervision: Magda Kłos-Podsiadło graphic design and illustrations: Marta Ignerska publisher: Wydawnictwo WYTWÓRNIA, Warszawa O tańcu – Zuzanna Kisielewska illustrations: Agata Dudek i Małgorzata Nowak / Acapulco Studio publisher: Wydawnictwo DRUGANOGA, Warszawa Po co nam sztuka? – Katarzyna Witt illustrations: Ola Niepsuj graphic design and typesetting: Ola Niepsuj, Olek Modzelewski publisher: Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej w Warszawie Podziemna przygoda odważnej żaby René – Mikołaj Pasiński, Gosia Herba illustrations: Gosia Herba graphic design and typesetting: Mikołaj Pasiński publisher: Wydawnictwo KROPKA, Warszawa, imprint Wydawnictwa MARGINESY, Warszawa Seria: Dziubdziusie – Monika Hanulak 1. Jemy, 2. Myjemy się, 3. Płaczemy, 4. Śmiejemy się graphic design and illustrations: Monika Hanulak publisher: Wydawnictwo DWIE SIOSTRY, Warszawa Seria: Tutu – Piotr Karski Co to? Tutu i dźwięki, 2. Kim jesteś? Tutu i zwierzęta, 3. Złapię cię. Tutu i pojazdy illustrations and graphic design: Piotr Karski publisher: Wydawnictwo DWIE SIOSTRY, Warszawa Tajemnice szkieletów. O czym klekoczą kości? – Marta Guzowska, Wiesław Więckowski illustrations, graphic and cover design and typesetting: Joanna Czaplewska technical editing and DTP: Agnieszka Matulka publisher: Wydawnictwo NASZA KSIĘGARNIA, Warszawa U z dwiema kropkami / U mit zwei Punkten – Kasia Minasowicz; translation: Róża Zielnik-Kłodzińska illustrations and graphic design: Kasia Minasowicz publisher: Wydawnictwo WIDNOKRĄG, Piaseczno Section IV. Textbooks and professional literature (educational and training materials, dictionaries, handbooks) AWARD Malbork Castle in the Grand Master’s Times, Including an Outline of Its Subsequent History a Visitor’s Companion / Zamek w Malborku w czasach wielkich mistrzów oraz zarys jego dalszych dziejów Vademecum dla zwiedzających – Marek Stokowski, Janusz Trupinda; translation: Mirosław Lala cover and graphic design: Ryszard Bienert publisher: Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku DISTINCTIONS Akademia Medyczna w Bydgoszczy. Collegium Medicum UMK 1984-2024 – Krzysztof Nierzwicki, Monika Kubiak, Liliana Lewandowska graphic design and typesetting: Radosław Staniec, Maria Szczodrowska publisher: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu 1945-2025 – Anna Supruniuk, Mirosław Adam Supruniuk graphic design and typesetting: Radosław Staniec, Maria Szczodrowska publisher: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu Section V. Art (albums, catalogues and photobooks) AWARDS Brak Lasu / The Lack of Forest – Martyna Miller; translation: Weronika Zalewska graphic design and typesetting: Zofka Kofta prepress: Albert Łukasiak publisher: Wydawnictwo Pamoja Press, Warszawa Etnoalternatywa. Nowe spojrzenie na modę ludową / Ethnoalternative. A new look at folk fashion – Krystyna Pieronkiewicz-Pieczko, Małgorzata Paul, Beata Bojda; translation: Centrum Szkoleniowe IDEA Group graphic design and typesetting: Ludwika Mach publisher: Muzeum Śląskie w Katowicach DISTINCTIONS Czarna Rzeka – Justyna Mędrala; translation: Maria Smulewska-Dziadosz graphic design and typesetting: Damian Nowak publisher: Wydawnictwo Akademii Sztuk Pięknych w Katowicach Daddies, kings & sissy boys – edited by Agata Cukierska, Paweł Wątroba graphic design and typesetting: Marcin Wysocki publisher: Centrum Sztuki Współczesnej KRONIKA – filia Bytomskiego Centrum Kultury Dancing Your Dream Awake – Anita Andrzejewska; translation: Jamie Fyson Howard graphic design: Anita Andrzejewska i Kasia Kubicka publisher: Anita Andrzejewska Art, Kraków 29th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw / 29. Międzynarodowe Biennale Plakatu w Warszawie – texts: Justyna Czerniakowska, Jola Gola, Mateusz Machalski, Lech Majewski, Błażej Ostoja Lniski, Jan Zajączkowski graphic design, layout and typesetting: Ania Wieluńska, Agnieszka Drozd, Piotr Welk, Claire Barrault publisher: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Warszawie Hedera Helix – edited by Grzegorz Hańderek; translation: Alicja Gorgoń concept, graphic design and typesetting: Paulina Urbańska-Kaczmarczyk publisher: Wydawnictwo Akademii Sztuk Pięknych w Katowicach JAM POSEŁKINI JEGO. Język i emocje polskiego średniowiecza – Łukasz Kozak graphic design and typesetting: Hanna Dudkowiak publisher: Biblioteka Narodowa, Warszawa Kierunek Paryż. Polskie artystki z pracowni Bourdelle’a / Destination Paris. Polish Women Artists from Bourdelle’s Studio – catalogue concept and scholarly editing: Ewa Ziembińska graphic design, typesetting and prepress: Kamila Schinwelska, Marcin Gwiazdowski / Studio Elipsy publisher: Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie Lares et Penates: On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture – a collective work edited by Aleksandra Kędziorek; translation: Soren Gauger graphic design: Kaja Kusztra publisher: ZACHĘTA – Narodowa Galeria Sztuki, Warszawa Outsiders 2021-2025 – edited by Cezary Hunkiewicz, editorial collaboration: Alicja Jabłonowska, Filip Kozarski; translation: Lanģuaģe Extreme graphic design: Olek Modzelewski publisher: LAYUP Galeria, Gdańsk Pamięć teatru. Polska fotografia teatralna od początku istnienia do dziś 1839-2024 / Theatre Memory. Polish Theatre Photography from the Beginning until the Present 1839-2024 – texts: Joanna Biernacka-Płoska, Agnieszka Wanicka, Wojciech Nowicki, Magdalena Hueckel; translation: Magdalena Szwedowska graphic design and typesetting: Anita Wasik publisher: Instytut Teatralny im. Zbigniewa Raszewskiego Powroty. Z archiwum Pawła Pierścińskiego / Revisiting. Paweł Pierściński’s Archive – Katarzyna Sagatowska, Monika Szewczyk-Wittek; translation: Krzysztof Kowalczyk graphic design and typesetting: Anna Nałęcka-Milach image prepress: Tomasz Kubaczyk publisher: Narodowy Instytut Architektury i Urbanistyki, Warszawa Ruins of Belarus – Lesia Pcholka, Asia Chmyz, Uladzimir Hramovich (Archiwum VEHA); translation: Stowarzyszenie Mova – język bez barier graphic design: Karolina Pietrzyk, Tobias Wenig, Archiwum VEHA publisher: Galeria Arsenał w Białymstoku co-publisher: Centrum Kultury Białoruskiej w Białymstoku Sześć wazonów – Joanna Szpak-Ostachowska; translation: Agata Jasińska graphic design: Olga Łacna photographs: Joanna Szpak-Ostachowska photo prepress: Tomasz Kubaczyk publisher: Joanna Szpak-Ostachowska, Warszawa The Absolute Factory – Andrzej Wasilewski graphic design and typesetting: Alina Odren publisher: TRAFO Trafostacja Sztuki w Szczecinie co-publisher: Akademia Sztuki w Szczecinie The Edge of the Vessel at the Height of My Mouth – Alicja Bielawska graphic design: Pilar Rojo, Stefan Lorenzutti concept and sequencing: Stefan Lorenzutti publisher: Wydawnictwo Bored Wolves, Kraków Ukryte znaczenia. Motyw wnętrz w sztuce polskiej od XIX do XXI wieku / Hidden Meanings: The Motif of Interiors in Polish Art from the 21st Century – Agnieszka Bagińska, Anna Budzałek, Maria Gołąb, Aleksandra Krypczyk-De Barra, Jarosław Lubiak, Agnieszka Skalska; translation: Marcin Wawrzyńczak graphic design: Ryszard Bienert publisher: Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu UpComing 2024. Wybrane Dyplomy ASP w Warszawie. After school club / UpComing 2024. Selected Degree Pieces of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. After school club – edited volume graphic design and typesetting: Zofka Kofta, Paulina Kaleśnikowa prepress: Albert Łukasiak publisher: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Warszawie Ziemia nie gubi. Jeńcy cywilni na Westerplatte (1939-1941) / The Soil Loses Nothing. Civilian prisoners of war at Westerplatte (1939-1941) – edited volume graphic design: Barbara Bugalska publisher: Muzeum II Wojny Światowej w Gdańsku Section VI. Other (bibliophile editions, maps, scores, etc.) AWARD Klub Dumas / El club Dumas – Arturo Pérez-Reverte; translation: Filip Łobodziński cover and typographic design: Mimi Wasilewska publisher: Wydawnictwo ArtRage, Warszawa DISTINCTIONS emigracJA. Notatki o człowieku – Greta Samuel script, artwork, cover artwork and lettering: Greta Samuel publisher: Fundacja Nowej Kultury BĘC ZMIANA, Warszawa Fryderyk Chopin. Polonez f-moll [op. 71 nr 3] WN 12 / Fryderyk Chopin. Polonaise in F MINOR [OP. 71 NO 3] WN 12 – Piotr Wojciechowski graphic design: Grzegorz Laszuk typesetting: Anna Hegman publisher: Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina, Warszawa Kodeks Krasińskich. Edycja wykonawcza z esejami i komentarzem krytycznym / Codex Krasińskich. A Performer’s Edition with Essays and a Critical Commentary – Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett, Marc Lewon cover and graphic design and typesetting: Marcin Hernas graphic design of the notated pages and music engraving: Emil Wojtacki initial letters design: Jan Estrada-Osmycki publisher: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, Kraków cooperation: Instytut Adama Mickiewicza, Warszawa Małgorzata Mirga-Tas „Saworo, Saworo, Saworo” – Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, Wojciech Szymański graphic design: Agata Biskup photographs: Daniel Rumiancew, Jakub Celej publisher: Instytut Adama Mickiewicza, Warszawa Plan sytuacyjny Gdańska. Daniel Buhse 1866-1869. Faksymile czystorysu – Jarosław Zalewski translation: Wojciech Chmielewski graphic design: Jarosław Zulewski publisher: Urząd Miejski w Gdańsku, Biuro Architekta Miasta Plan Warszawy 1942-1944 – edited by Jacek Leociak, Paweł E. Weszpiński graphic and illustrations design, typesetting and prepress: Anna Piwowar illustrations preparation: Eliza Kowalska-Małek publisher: Muzeum Warszawy Furthermore, the jury presented HONORARY AWARD to EMIL WOJTACKI for the music engraving of the medieval and contemporary notation, including marginal textual and musical annotations, and for the skilful use of colour as a system of emphasis throughout the notated sections of Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett and Marc Lewon’s Kodeks Krasińskich. A Performer's Edition with Essays and a Critical Commentary, published by PWM Edition Kraków, 2025.