The book design for Atlas of Remote Islands earned Judith Schalansky the first prize in the Stiftung Buchkunst competition in 2009. Born in Greifswald in 1980, Schalansky has built a career spanning literary authorship, graphic design, and editorial work. Her multidisciplinary practice integrates communication design with storytelling, positioning her work within the wider context of German contemporary literature and visual arts.
Academic Foundation and Early Work
Schalansky pursued formal education at the Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, where she developed her skills in communication design and art history. This training provided the technical basis for her later projects that merge aesthetic structure with written narrative. Her early bibliographic contributions include Fraktur mon Amour, published in 2008, which highlights her professional focus on typography and graphic layout.
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Her body of written work reflects a diverse range of narrative styles. The 2010 book Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will gained significant recognition for its unique cartographic and descriptive approach. Following this, she authored The Giraffe's Neck, a bildungsroman released in 2011, which earned the Stiftung Buchkunst prize in 2012. Her publication record also includes An Inventory of Losses, reflecting her continued engagement with literary forms.
Editorial Roles and Professional Recognition
Beyond her independent writing, Schalansky contributes to the publishing industry as the general editor for the Naturkunden series with Matthes & Seitz since 2013. Her professional contributions have been acknowledged through various awards, including the German Design Award in 2010, the Spycher: Literary Award Leuk in 2012, and the Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize in 2018. Additionally, she received the Christine Lavant prize in 2020, solidifying her standing in both visual and literary fields.
Fast facts
- Born: 1980, Greifswald
- Citizenship: Germany, German Democratic Republic
- Education: Freie Universität Berlin, University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
- Notable work: Atlas of Remote Islands
- Editor: Naturkunden series
- Award: Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize (2018)
- Named after: Asteroid 95247 Schalansky (2011)
Questions readers ask
What is the subject matter of her most recognized book?
Atlas of Remote Islands features descriptions and maps of fifty islands the author has never visited.
Does she hold academic credentials in design?
Yes, she holds degrees in both communication design and art history.
Achievements
- Friedrich Hölderlin Prize — 2012
- Notable work: Atlas of Remote Islands
- Notable work: The Giraffe's Neck
