Valuing the areas of creation directly linked to the production of the object book, such as design, the quality of printing and finishing, graphic design and the use of materials, are the objectives behind the creation of the Book Design Award in 2017 by the Directorate-General for Books, Archives and Libraries.

The 2024 edition of the Book Design Award honoured ESAD Design - Communication lecturers Inês Nepomuceno, who was awarded a Special Mention, and João Faria, designer of one of the 20 books selected to represent Portuguese book design in the international competition Best Book Design From All Over the World 2025, organised by the German foundation Stitung Buchkunst.

The jury for this edition, made up of Cláudio Rodrigues, Isabel Duarte, Joana Bravo and Paula Mendes, assessed a total of 116 books entered into the competition, justifying the Special Mention awarded to the book "Escavadora", designed by Inês Nepomuceno, published by XYZ Books and printed by Gráfica Maiadouro, for having stood out "in the group of books in the competition for the quality of the choice of materials, namely papers that contrasted greatly between high gloss and totally matt, and for the impeccable reproduction of the images, and the use of a high gloss varnish, referring to the idea of the machine, which gives the publication its title".

The selected book, designed by João Faria, is entitled "The Construction of the Algarve" and was published by Dafne Editora. The 20 books selected by the jury, which also includes the book "Capital Work" designed by ESAD alumnus Sérgio Alves, are the Portuguese entry for the Best Book Design from All Over the World award. The results will be announced at the beginning of next year and the prizes will be awarded at the Leipzig International Book Fair in March 2025.