Meet the Judges

The secret to Joy Cho’s commercial success might very well be that she really, truly, genuinely wants us all to thrive. Optimism and empathy ripple throughout her brand. We feel it in every pop of color, every lifestyle tip, and every product designed to make our lives more joyful. Her newest endeavor is no exception. Crazy. Mad. Joy. is a Substack newsletter where she shines a light on mental health and wellness by openly sharing her own personal and professional challenges and offering empowering advice on such topics as finding the right therapist, making time for exercise, and moving on from failure. We’re honored that Joy joined us as a Booktique Awards Judge for not one but two consecutive years! Here she shares some highlights from her 2023 and 2024 reviews.

Did being a judge (and/or did a specific book you judged) spark new creative connections or inspire new ideas you’d like to explore in your life or work? As much as I am a lover of design books, there were some I reviewed that I had never heard of or knew existed! It just makes me excited to discover more books out there that touch on areas of art and design that I might not have thought about before.

Of all the books you judged, which one really spoke to you and why? [2024] Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion. Despite not being very connected to the subject matter, I appreciated how Fly showcased another side of basketball that people don’t often see or think about. Also, the cover texture and graphics are beautiful! [2023]Ice Cold. I just loved seeing and reading the history behind such a specific topic! It proves there really is a book for everything!

Was there a specific page, or image, or section of any of the six books that you’d like to point out to our readers? Something that you absolutely don’t want them to miss? [2024] In The Art of Ruth E Carter, I *loved* the pattern on the page edges and the artwork on the spine. The attention to detail is at another level. [2023] The Space Shuttle cover. The slipcase cut-out is so, so cool.

What’s your favorite thing about coffee table books? I love that they are not only educational, but serve as a beautiful piece for display and conversation in someone’s home. It speaks to what the home owner is interested in by the books they choose to read and keep out.

What's on your coffee table right now, book or otherwise? I have a couple of home decor books, as well as some vintage glass grapes sitting in a vintage bowl!

If you had to choose...

Words or pictures? Pictures. Matte or glossy? Matte. Serif or sans? Sans. Brights or greige? Brights. Marble or terrazzo? Terrazzo. Music or silence? Silence. Sweet or savory? Sweet. Coffee or cocktails? Tea! Movie theater or museum? Movie theater. Tulips or Bird of Paradise? Bird of Paradise. Grand Canyon or Central Park? Central Park. Order or chaos? Order.