Delinquent is Mina Pam Dick’s first published book of poetry and a Mohawk Show 11 finalist. The New York native is a visual artist as well as a writer, often renaming herself for her projects. Other names include Nico Pam Dick and Hildebrand Pam Dick, and her work has appeared in Tantalum, Bomb, and The Brooklyn Rail.

In creating the Delinquent cover, designer and typophile Jeremy Mickel, Mickel Design, says he explored many creative directions, but ultimately chose to use the author’s artwork. “Her abstract illustrations, along with my own handlettering, add up to more of an analogous ‘feel’ of the poetry than a literal explanation.”

The book was set into type by Christopher Mattison of Typeslowly and edited by Dan Machlin, Founder, Futurepoem. “Mina Pam Dick’s work contains many references to novelists and philosophers of the past, which is represented in a cover design that harkens back to the book design of the 1950s, especially for avant-garde literature,” said Machlin. “The brilliant hand lettering on the cover by Jeremy Mickel playfully brought the title of the book, Delinquent, to life.”

Delinquent was printed at Ann Arbor’s Edwards Brothers, on Carnival, Vellum. “The texture, hue, and weight of Mohawk Carnival was a perfect fit,” said Mickel. “The illustrations reproduced beautifully, and the use of a specialty paper added a value that wouldn’t have been achievable with a standard white sheet.”

Author: Mina Pam Dick
Client: Futurepoem
Design Firm: Mickel Design
Designer: Jeremy Mickel
Printing: Edwards Brothers
Paper: Mohawk Carnival, Vellum, 100c

Look for feature stories about the Best of Show winners on Felt & Wire. The Mohawk Show celebrates the beauty and brains of design and printing. Winners and finalists are chosen based on the following criteria: aesthetic value, content, paper usage, appropriateness, production quality and excellence of craft.

See a complete list of Mohawk Show 11 winners and finalists here.

Download a Mohawk Show 12 entry form here.