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DK celebrates 50th birthday with DK RED, a new imprint for a 'big life'
Global publisher DK has launched DK RED as part of company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Described as DK’s first ever imprint, the new list will sit within the adult division—also now renamed DK Living—and look to author talent for "books for a big life". Authors already on the list include chef Asma Khan, neuroscientist Dr Rachel Barr, and the baker and influencer Julius Fiedler.
The new imprint was announced at a birthday party held at BAFTA in London, with guests including Mary Berry, Anya Lautenbach, Kes Gray, Scott Harrison, Allegra McEvedy, Tamara Macfarlane, Asma Khan, Dina Macki, Chris Haughton and Ben Hoare, as well as agents, key retailers and co-founder Christopher Dorling.
DK was founded by Dorling and Peter Kindersley and quickly became a publishing sensation. DK grew exceptionally quickly during its first 25 years due to its distinctive and innovative designs and fresh approach to illustrated non-fiction publishing across both adult and children’s lists, before its sale to Pearson, Penguin’s then parent, in 1999. Its golden anniversary follows its most successful year to date in 2023, which saw the publisher’s strongest profit performance since inception and six New York Times bestsellers, along with annual sales of £200m. It also now sells and markets Sourcebooks in the UK and Europe, almost scoring a notable feat ahead of the party with Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid is Watching (Poisoned Pen), the second bestselling title last week.
Speaking at the party, Paul Kelly, c.e.o. of DK, said: "It is difficult to overstate the impact Dorling Kindersley (DK) has made on the global publishing scene. An impact that has engendered loyalty, fervour and camaraderie that remains as strong as ever with our long-standing partners across the world.
"We are more ambitious than ever in our bid to create genre-defining books. Peter Kindersley understood that a generation brought up on TV wanted a highly visual presentation of information, and like Peter, we understand our readers and know what they expect from us. Today, in a world heavily influenced by social media, readers want even more. They are seeking out a wider range of subjects, ideas and ‘non-traditional’ concepts. They want to connect deeply with authors—creators, influencers and thinkers. Parents want to engage their children in gritty and complex social and global issues as well as the comforting and humorous. Our publishing today is broader than ever before."
DK RED will be spearheaded by Liz Gough, m.d. of DK Living. She will be joined later in the year by a new publishing director who will lead the imprint.
She added: "It is really exciting to see DK starting to spread its wings even further and work more closely with author talent—and I have a clear vision for what I want that to look like going forward. DK RED will speak to the busy person seeking inspiration and expert advice: with new ideas to help them expand their minds, cook up delicious meals and find empowering ways to enhance their wellbeing. DK RED will give our authors and their writing the identity it needs within the wider DK framework and the broader publishing landscape."
