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AIGA 50 Books / 50 Covers Exhibition in 2009

Link: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/5050-recent

AIGA's annual 50 Books / 50 Covers exhibition opened in NYC on December 9th, 2009. This year's exhibition space is very sparse, with no covers mounted on the walls as in previous shows. We received feedback from fellow designers that the overall presentation was underwhelming. With numerous designers already disappointed with AIGA's stance on accepting only 41 covers into the show*, does this final presentation reflect a lack of appreciation for the printed book (or the recession)? We would really like to hear your thoughts on AIGA's competition this year. (There was also word circulating at the event that there will be no printed annual this year. Is it true?)

*The AIGA includes an expanded note on the subject of 41 vs. 50 in the catalog. Here is an excerpt from "Disobeying the Brief," written by juror Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo:

"The 50 Books/50 Covers" jury, after two days of respectful deliberation and rounds of selections, decided to defy the assumption that the sum of our efforts should add up to 100. That decision—made with a clear understanding of the rules as well as the potential reaction from AIGA members and the design community—provided the fodder for intense discussions. However, as AIGA executive director Richard Grefé explained in one online forum, "AIGA has never set a quantitative target over a qualitative judgment and we respect the jury in deciding where the threshold falls in meeting a consistent standard in their judgment." The jury's choice of 41 covers from the pool of work entered represents the best ideals of the democratic process, in that the integrity of the process was proven to allow for an elasticity of application. All in all, it was not the lack of good, even superb work submitted for the competition, but rather the melding of individual thoughts on what qualifies as selectable..."