Kiel exhibition shows creative masterpieces by young bookbinders!

Kiel exhibition shows creative masterpieces by young bookbinders!

On September 18, 2025, the university library of the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel will open a special exhibition: the “International Book Cover Competition for Trainees”. This event presents 55 hand-bound books created by young bookbinders from Germany, Austria and Switzerland as part of a competition. The University of Kiel reports that the works on display are based on an identical unbound book block, but differ significantly in their bindings.

The variety of designs ranges from classic craftsmanship to creative material combinations. Among the young bookbinders exhibiting are Gesa Eske Teuteberg and Carolin Dreyer from Kiel University Library. Teuteberg's cover is characterized by a fine cardboard band with leather rails in dark gray and black tones and shadowy figures. Her work was rated “Outstanding” and secured her first place in her second year of teaching. Dreyer's concept, on the other hand, combines the contrasting colors yellow and black and addresses the sensitive content of the book, with the focus on technical precision and visual clarity.

Competition and training centers

The International Bookbinding Competition offers young bookbinders the opportunity to put their skills to the test. The Oldenburg State Library highlights that all participants receive an identical unbound book, which they design within approximately three months. There are no specifications for execution, which expands the trainees' scope for creativity. The jury primarily assesses the professional and technically correct execution, followed by the choice of material and design idea.

Participants in the competition not only benefit from the opportunity to compare performance, but also from networking with each other, which promotes exchange in the bookbinding community. The competition is held annually in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, supported by various professional associations that already internationally emphasize the quality of the bookbinding profession.

Cultural significance of the bookbinding craft

What is particularly noteworthy is that the bookbinding craft has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by the German UNESCO Commission since 2021. The Johannes Gutenberg School explains that this craft has a tradition of over 500 years and its main tasks include the production and finishing of books as well as the restoration and production of folders, folders and boxes. The techniques used in bookbinding are diverse: they range from cutting and folding to binding, gluing, embossing and gilding.

The Johannes Gutenberg School offers practical training in which prospective specialists acquire comprehensive knowledge of general education subjects as well as job-specific theory and practical skills. Workshop manager Andreas Hack emphasizes the importance of an optimal learning environment in order to promote the technical diversity and expressiveness of bookbinding.

With the upcoming exhibition in Kiel and the ongoing commitment to training in bookbinding, it becomes clear how important it is to maintain this traditional art form and pass it on to future generations.