'Inspirational' Adlington named as Faber’s new art director

Pete Adlington has been appointed the new art director at Faber, succeeding Donna Payne who departs the company later this month.

Adlington joined the publisher as a senior designer in 2018. During his tenure, he has overseen the artwork for major titles including Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun and the full repackaging of the author’s backlist; the format of Faber Editions, and the design of Louise Doughty’s Platform Seven and 2020 International Booker-winner The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld. In June, he was named a Bookseller Rising Star.

He will begin his new role on 12th September, reporting to publisher Alex Bowler.

"We are lucky to know Pete’s design calibre first-hand: a sharp, diverse and always striking aesthetic that has become central to Faber’s visual identity in the four years since Pete joined from Canongate," Bowler said.

"He has also proven he has all the qualities to take on the leadership of the outstanding design team Donna has left us. It is a testament to her that, in Pete, such a skilled member of the team is now stepping into this prestigious role, ready to set the future visual direction of our publishing."

Payne has been at Faber for 17 years, and leaves to join Apple as creative director. Commenting on Adlington’s appointment, she said: "It’s been a great honour and an enormous pleasure to work alongside Pete these past few years. He is a rare and inspirational talent, whose passion for books and design is evident in everything he does.

"I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have benefitted from his intelligence, humour and unfailing support and I’m utterly delighted that the opportunity exists for him to lead the extraordinary design team at Faber into the future. I’m excited to see the stellar work to come. Congratulations, Pete!"

Adlington added: "I feel incredibly privileged to step into the role of art director at Faber, a publisher that I feel proud to work for and one that has championed the collaborative power of design and the written word for over 90 years. Donna has been the most spectacular role model and she leaves me with an exceptional team of people, whose talent, diligence and imagination will ensure Faber’s publishing continues to set the standard in book design and be adored by readers across the world. I’m truly excited for the next chapter in Faber’s design legacy."