We are pleased to introduce the following design experts as judges of the 2025 program:

David Drummond

David Drummond is the founder and principal of Salamander Hill Design, based in Elgin, Québec, Canada. Their studio operates out of a 200-year-old stone farmhouse working on projects that include; book covers, packaging, brand identity and illustration. Their award-winning work has been featured in AIGA (American Institute of Graphics Arts) design competitions, AAUP (American Association of University Presses) Cover and Jackets Competition, Communication Arts Design Annual, and Print magazine’s Regional Design Annual. https://www.salamanderhill.com/

Team Member

José Reyes

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Turkey, New Mexico, Utah, and Florida, José is a graduate of SCAD and the founder of Metaleap Creative, where, for 20 years, he has led award-winning brand launches, editorial redesigns, and digital efforts. In 2022, in collaboration with the Society of Publication Designers, he launched the Right Mind at Work podcast with his business partner, Nikolle. In it, they delve into real talk around the challenges facing industry leaders and the disconnect they are experiencing with their creative teams. https://www.metaleapcreative.com/

Team Member

Josh Durham

Josh is a multi–award winning designer and vice president of the Australian Book Design Association (ABDA). He worked as a magazine designer before setting up his company Design by Committee under the mentorship of Australian book design luminary W.H. Chong. He draws upon a broad skill base to offer both illustrative and concept driven solutions to literary fiction, commercial fiction, YA, children's, non-fiction and illustrated book commissions for Australian and international publishers.
https://designbycommittee.com.au/

Team Member

Koko Toyama

Koko Toyama is a Chicago-based graphic designer who enjoys using her expertise in publication and branding to create meaningful designs. After graduating Wheaton College with a degree in painting, she began her career at Tyndale House Publishers learning the various aspects of the book design process. In 2022 she was a recipient of an ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award for her work on the One Year Bible. Her passion for organizing information to be both visually stunning and engaging has allowed her to work for a variety of brand agencies, publishers, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. When she is not in front of a screen, she enjoys cooking with her family, exploring art museums, finding hidden gems around her city, and cheering on the Cubs. https://www.kokotoyama.com/

Team Member

Kevin & Kristen Howdeshell

The Brave Union is Kevin & Kristen Howdeshell, a husband and wife illustration studio focused on meaningful storytelling through illustration. The two have collaborated since 2008 creating art for a variety of projects including ice cream packaging, movie posters, album artwork, and editorial illustration. They live in Kansas City, Missouri. Kevin and Kristen also enjoy being the volunteer art teachers at their kid’s elementary school. In their non-art hours, the family spends as many weekends as they can camping, hiking or biking trails, and trampoline time. https://www.thebraveunion.com/

Team Member