Pan Macmillan partners with Paul Smith's Foundation on proof design competition
Pan Macmillan have launched a competition with Paul Smith’s Foundation for aspiring and early-career designers, ahead of the publication of Sir Paul Smith’s memoir Threads: My Life in Style on 10th September.
The winning designer will be commissioned to create a limited-edition proof (early reading copy) cover design of Threads: My Life in Style, for which they will receive a £500 commission fee.
In addition, the winner will have the chance to meet Sir Paul and tour the Paul Smith HQ as well as meet the design team at the Pan Macmillan office in London. A limited-edition proof bearing their design will be created.
The shortlist will be decided by a panel of judges comprised of Claire Bush, Communications Director, Marketing at Pan Macmillan, Sean Baker, Chief Brand Officer at Paul Smith, Tiana-Jane Dunlop, Cover Designer at Pan Macmillan, Martha Mosse, Director of Paul Smith’s Foundation and Alex Bec, Co-Founder of It’s Nice That. The winning entry will be chosen by Sir Paul Smith.
Entrants are invited to submit a portfolio of 3 to 6 existing pieces of existing work and a written statement of no more than 200 words by 7th June. The competition is open to UK residents only.
Martha Mosse, Director of Paul Smith’s Foundation, said:
'We are delighted to be working with Pan Macmillan to mark the publication of our founder’s memoir. This public competition that sits at the very heart of the Foundation’s endeavours - the establishment of commercial opportunities for creative people, twinned with business mentoring and industry introductions. We look forward to reviewing the applications, and seeing who is inspired to enter.’
Claire Bush, Communications Director, Marketing, at Pan said:
‘We are so excited to be working with Paul Smith’s Foundation to offer this incredible opportunity to an emerging illustrator, artist or designer. We wanted the launch of Threads to actively reflect Sir Paul's ethos by opening the door to the next generation of creative talent, and we cannot wait to see how the winning designer interprets his unique visual world on the cover.’
Submit your entry to threadsdesigncompetition@macmillan.com by 23:59 on Sunday 7 June 2026.
For more information please visit www.panmacmillan.com/threadsdesigncompetition.
