Summer Reading Guide 2024/2025
The Summer Reading Guide (SRG) is Australia’s leading independent bookseller catalogue, published annually since the 1990s for the holiday period. Organised by Readings in Melbourne and Gleebooks in Sydney, it is distributed through a network of 18 independent bookshops nationwide. For the 2024/25 edition, TRiC was tasked with redesigning the guide to make it more engaging and contemporary, positioning the bookshops as independent tastemakers. This edition introduced editorial contributions from authors, incorporating a more literary design language while maintaining its format as a catalogue. Key considerations included ensuring legibility for a diverse readership and addressing colour usage on lightweight paper to prevent show-through.
The redesign drew inspiration from contemporary book design, literature, and editorial layout. Australian-designed typefaces, such as Quadrant Text for headings and Herbik for body text, were chosen for their distinct and humanist qualities, enhancing the guide’s storytelling energy. A simple structure was established for the reviews, using typographic hierarchy, generous spacing, and pops of colour to highlight special-price books. Leading the publication is a striking cover illustration by Ilya Milstein depicting an iconic ocean pool scene that captures the magic of summer reading in a richly coloured and distinctly Australian setting.
The result is a fresh and engaging Summer Reading Guide that combines a contemporary literary aesthetic with accessible design, elevating the reviewed content and reinforcing the guide’s position as a key resource for book lovers across Australia.
