ABERDEEN, S.D. — The Cramer Center for Design & Innovation has announced the winners of its inaugural Book Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to design and scholarship. Submissions published between 2022 and 2024 showcased exceptional work from a wide range of academic and design-focused publishers, highlighting fresh ideas and innovative thinking across the field.
For more information about the Book Awards, including images of book covers for winning titles, see: https://cramercenter.org/book-awards/ .
Overall winner
Tye Farrow, Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health (University of Toronto Press)
The top honor was awarded to internationally recognized designer Tye Farrow for Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health. Farrow’s groundbreaking work explores how the spaces we inhabit — from homes and schools to workplaces and communities — can actively support physical, mental and social well-being.
Tye Farrow, Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health (University of Toronto Press)
The top honor was awarded to internationally recognized designer Tye Farrow for Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health. Farrow’s groundbreaking work explores how the spaces we inhabit — from homes and schools to workplaces and communities — can actively support physical, mental and social well-being.
Filled with striking visuals and practical insights, the book makes complex research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience accessible and actionable, offering readers ways to enhance daily life through intentional design.
Robert Russell, chair of the review committee, said: “Constructing Health is a remarkable achievement. Tye Farrow turns cutting-edge science into a compelling guide that demonstrates how thoughtful design can truly enhance our daily lives. We are honored to recognize it as the overall award winner.”
Honor titles
In addition to the overall winner, three honor titles were recognized for their exceptional quality and contributions:
In addition to the overall winner, three honor titles were recognized for their exceptional quality and contributions:
· Here Today: Oklahoma’s Ghost Towns, Vanishing Towns, and Towns Persisting Against theOdds by Jeffrey B. Schmidt (University of Oklahoma Press)
· The JOY Experiments: Reimagining Mid-sized Cities to Heal Our Divided Society by Scott Higgins and Paul Kalbfleisch (Dundurn Press)
· The Architecture of Modern American Synagogues, 1950s–1960s by Anat Geva (Texas A&M University Press)
Together, these works showcase excellence in research, storytelling and visual presentation. From capturing disappearing communities to reimagining the potential of mid-sized cities to exploring the rich architectural heritage of American synagogues, each title offers fresh perspectives on how people and places shape one another.
Review process
All entries were evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges from the Cramer Center board. Submissions were assessed for:
All entries were evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges from the Cramer Center board. Submissions were assessed for:
· Quality of research
· Clarity and excellence of writing
· Impactful visual presentation and use of design principles
· Overall contribution to scholarship
One honor title was selected in each category, with Constructing Health chosen as the overall award winner.
Looking ahead
Submissions for the 2025 Cramer Center Book Awards for Design & Innovation will open soon.
Publishers of 2025 releases are invited to participate, with winners to be announced in the Fall of 2026.
Submissions for the 2025 Cramer Center Book Awards for Design & Innovation will open soon.
Publishers of 2025 releases are invited to participate, with winners to be announced in the Fall of 2026.