Design book shortlisted in national awards

David Whitbread with his new manual. Photo: Andrew Sikorski

by Helen Musa

WELL-known identity in the Canberra arts community, David Whitbread has just been shortlisted in a national design award for his latest book, “The Design Manual.”

Whitbread is a busy graphic designer by day and former head of design at the University of Canberra, who retired to publish the third edition of his book.

He was also art director and co-author of the “Style Manual for Editors Designers and Printers” 6th edition, and adviser on the 7th online edition.

But, he’s much better known in the Canberra arts scene as an accompanist, the bassoonist who founded the long-running Aeolus Wind Trio and secretary of the CAT Awards board.

Whitbread’s massive 647-page tome, a resource covering the basics of graphic design through to advanced concepts, has been named as a finalist for the annual Design Institute of Australia Design Awards, to be announced on October 26.

At a recent launch, Whitbread explained some of the finer points of the book’s cover design, revealing that in the design world there is a “post pandemic” style of design, accounting for the book’s snazzy purple burst of colour.

“Pretty pleased about this,” Whitbread says.

“The Design Manual” can be purchased here.

First published at Canberra City News, August 10, 2023