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Go
Kids love to express themselves, and are designers by nature whether making posters for school, deciding what to hang in their rooms, or creating personalized notebook covers. Go, is an introduction to the ways in which a designer communicates his or her ideas to the world. It's written and designed just for those curious kids, not to mention their savvy parents, who want to learn the secret of how to make things dynamic and interesting.
150 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2013
39 people are currently reading
1910 people want to read
About the author
Chip Kidd
70 books287 followersChip Kidd is an American author, editor and graphic designer, best known for his innovative book covers.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Kidd grew up in a Philadelphia suburb, strongly influenced by American popular culture. While a design student at Penn State, an art instructor once gave the assignment to design a book cover for Museums and Women by John Updike, who is also a Shillington native. The teacher panned Kidd's work in front of the class, suggesting that book design would not be a good career choice for him. However, Kidd later received professional assignments to design covers for Memories of the Ford Administration and other books by Updike.
Kidd is currently associate art director at Knopf, an imprint of Random House. He first joined the Knopf design team in 1986, when he was hired as a junior assistant by Sara Eisenman.
Publishers Weekly described his book jackets as "creepy, striking, sly, smart, unpredictable covers that make readers appreciate books as objects of art as well as literature." USA Today called him "the closest thing to a rock star" in graphic design today, while author James Ellroy has called him “the world’s greatest book-jacket designer.”
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Kidd grew up in a Philadelphia suburb, strongly influenced by American popular culture. While a design student at Penn State, an art instructor once gave the assignment to design a book cover for Museums and Women by John Updike, who is also a Shillington native. The teacher panned Kidd's work in front of the class, suggesting that book design would not be a good career choice for him. However, Kidd later received professional assignments to design covers for Memories of the Ford Administration and other books by Updike.
Kidd is currently associate art director at Knopf, an imprint of Random House. He first joined the Knopf design team in 1986, when he was hired as a junior assistant by Sara Eisenman.
Publishers Weekly described his book jackets as "creepy, striking, sly, smart, unpredictable covers that make readers appreciate books as objects of art as well as literature." USA Today called him "the closest thing to a rock star" in graphic design today, while author James Ellroy has called him “the world’s greatest book-jacket designer.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
February 24, 2014
This book was fantastic for it's description of graphic design. I'd like to see a slight rewrite as 1) A high-school graphic design course or college intro course first reading and 2) a booklet to give to people who hire designers to explain exactly what it is they're paying for.
July 17, 2014
I'm guessing that the vast majority of readers couldn't name a single book designer. Genre fans could maybe name a cover artist or to, especially fans of fantasy. Of course, everyone has an opinion about which book covers they like and which ones they don't, about which are appealing and which ones repel, but most folks don't dwell on the design of books any more than they ponder the design of breakfast cereal boxes.
And that's okay. Except computers have made it possible for everyone of us to be a publisher, and many people find that designing things is now an unspoken requirement of their jobs and their hobbies. People are expecting to put together professional-looking slide shows or professional-looking blogs without having studied any aspect of graphic design ever. If this is you, regardless of your age, allow me to recommend this fine book. Kidd manages to distill all the broader concepts of design (color, space, font, etc.) into a simple format. Book lovers will appreciate that many book covers are included to illustrate the points.
Natasha liked it, she's twelve and interested in art (she'd like to be a Pixar animator one day). I liked it, because even though I knew what he was teaching already, his examples were so well chosen. And, as I say, lots of book jackets as illustrations. Plus, the book itself is just cool-looking.
Sadly, he didn't go into my personal favorite fun fact of cover design. Knopf uses a little Borzoi emblem on the spine of their books. Most publishers have a tiny logo they they use, Knopf has a dog. As far as I have seen, though, Knopf is the only publisher who changes their little dog image to suit the style of the book cover. The Borzoi on the spine of Geek Love, for example, had five legs. Kidd designed many of the Knopf books that I noticed the changed dog on.
Library copy.
And that's okay. Except computers have made it possible for everyone of us to be a publisher, and many people find that designing things is now an unspoken requirement of their jobs and their hobbies. People are expecting to put together professional-looking slide shows or professional-looking blogs without having studied any aspect of graphic design ever. If this is you, regardless of your age, allow me to recommend this fine book. Kidd manages to distill all the broader concepts of design (color, space, font, etc.) into a simple format. Book lovers will appreciate that many book covers are included to illustrate the points.
Natasha liked it, she's twelve and interested in art (she'd like to be a Pixar animator one day). I liked it, because even though I knew what he was teaching already, his examples were so well chosen. And, as I say, lots of book jackets as illustrations. Plus, the book itself is just cool-looking.
Sadly, he didn't go into my personal favorite fun fact of cover design. Knopf uses a little Borzoi emblem on the spine of their books. Most publishers have a tiny logo they they use, Knopf has a dog. As far as I have seen, though, Knopf is the only publisher who changes their little dog image to suit the style of the book cover. The Borzoi on the spine of Geek Love, for example, had five legs. Kidd designed many of the Knopf books that I noticed the changed dog on.
Library copy.
November 15, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up - valuable for anyone who has any interest in graphic design, which, it can readily be argued, is everyone. Consider not just captivating book covers or fashion trends in interior decorating or advertising logos, as a relative newbie like me first thinks of. Consider the colors and fonts of informative road signs, for example; they're not just black on white rectangles, are they? Next time you look into the cooler at the convenience store, consider the shapes of the different kinds of plastic bottles holding the sodas and waters. Snapple doesn't come in a curvy bottle like Propel, does it?
Well, I'm getting outside the book a bit. I'm using what I learned to think more about the world around me. Kidd should be proud of himself that he was able to give me that ability. He did it by creating a book that has a lot of information in it, but that presented that info. in a way that is accessible to children, and also engaging to ppl who have been around for a few decades and have been paying attention.
One of the things that my son, who is actually studying graphic design as part of his computer science classes, helped Kidd help me understand, is font. I now understand that the most readable font, for when I want to type a list or document for my old eyes to read later, is probably not a very simple sans serif like Helvetica. Something like Century Schoolbook, in which the strokes vary in thickness, gives the eye an additional cue so there's no hesitation on ambiguity. That is to say, mn is not likely to be misread as nm, or 1 as I or l, or 0 as o, or u as w, in the most easily read font. But a certain grace is also helpful to smooth reading. I'm going to do some investigation....
(I'm not explaining well - I do recommend you check out the book.)
I really liked the example of the four different covers Kidd offered Knopf for The Heart That Bleeds: Latin America Now. Interestingly, they're all very different from one another, and very different than the one represented here on Goodreads.
Although I want to try all of the exercises/ projects offered at the end of the book, I probably won't get a chance to. But I'm glad I read carefully because I'm glad I didn't miss this: "Often the first assignment in an Introduction to typography class is to select a word and make it look exactly like what it says it is." His examples are easy, and I'm sure you can imagine what 'filthy' and 'clean' look like, when the intent is to communicate sincerity. But then he points out that you can exchange the fonts of the two words to convey the concept of irony.
Well, I'm getting outside the book a bit. I'm using what I learned to think more about the world around me. Kidd should be proud of himself that he was able to give me that ability. He did it by creating a book that has a lot of information in it, but that presented that info. in a way that is accessible to children, and also engaging to ppl who have been around for a few decades and have been paying attention.
One of the things that my son, who is actually studying graphic design as part of his computer science classes, helped Kidd help me understand, is font. I now understand that the most readable font, for when I want to type a list or document for my old eyes to read later, is probably not a very simple sans serif like Helvetica. Something like Century Schoolbook, in which the strokes vary in thickness, gives the eye an additional cue so there's no hesitation on ambiguity. That is to say, mn is not likely to be misread as nm, or 1 as I or l, or 0 as o, or u as w, in the most easily read font. But a certain grace is also helpful to smooth reading. I'm going to do some investigation....
(I'm not explaining well - I do recommend you check out the book.)
I really liked the example of the four different covers Kidd offered Knopf for The Heart That Bleeds: Latin America Now. Interestingly, they're all very different from one another, and very different than the one represented here on Goodreads.
Although I want to try all of the exercises/ projects offered at the end of the book, I probably won't get a chance to. But I'm glad I read carefully because I'm glad I didn't miss this: "Often the first assignment in an Introduction to typography class is to select a word and make it look exactly like what it says it is." His examples are easy, and I'm sure you can imagine what 'filthy' and 'clean' look like, when the intent is to communicate sincerity. But then he points out that you can exchange the fonts of the two words to convey the concept of irony.
February 2, 2024
I knew nothing about design before I read this book...thanks to Chip Kidd I now know WHY I know nothing about design! Great introduction to the topic by a master. Chip Kidd is truly one of the most innovative designers today; his fresh approach to well defined images is both innovative and exciting. Would love to see him tackle new comic themed projects!
April 7, 2014
Kidd makes graphic design an everyday interesting subject for the lucky reader who picks up this book. Starting with the stop sign "Go" on the front to the back cover, he puts graphic design within easy reach of a school kid. Brief history of design well-represented, starting with those famous pictographs in France through numbers, letters, typefaces and styles, with examples that can be easily understood. Form before function, content, concept, negative space and other grander elements are explained with text and art. Concluding with design projects anyone can undertake with scissors, glue and an imagination is as smart and fetching as the sturdiness of the cover and paper stock. I'm a Kidd devotee, so I could go on and on happily. And no, it is not true that anyone can design a good book cover, including some people who do it for a living at major publishers. He reads the books he will decorate with his genius first. Kidd can tell you why he made all the choices he did on every one of his 1,000+ book covers, and that is the next step to understanding graphic design. And his work proves the most important function of graphic design: his artistry works.
May 6, 2017
yay, I really liked this!! I kept on thinking "wow, my art teacher would freaking ADORE this book." I'm going to add it to my book outlet cart and get it for her some time soon.
the info is somewhat basic, but I think I had a bit more background knowledge than the audience he wrote this for, so it's fine. I really didn't care bc this book would be worth it even if it wasn't in English- the design is really awesome! there are tons of examples of the terms he defines.
but of course I'd prefer for this book to be in English because the writing is great. It's perfect for beginners. Chip Kidd is funny and casual and doesn't "dumb down" the concepts for kids or anything. He just explains them well and provides good visuals.
yeah, so I'm really happy with this book. it was a fun quick read and will be a very useful reference for art class.
the info is somewhat basic, but I think I had a bit more background knowledge than the audience he wrote this for, so it's fine. I really didn't care bc this book would be worth it even if it wasn't in English- the design is really awesome! there are tons of examples of the terms he defines.
but of course I'd prefer for this book to be in English because the writing is great. It's perfect for beginners. Chip Kidd is funny and casual and doesn't "dumb down" the concepts for kids or anything. He just explains them well and provides good visuals.
yeah, so I'm really happy with this book. it was a fun quick read and will be a very useful reference for art class.
August 10, 2024
Für Kinder geschrieben, da haben auch Erwachsene eine Chance.
February 13, 2015
I had to take a graphic design class for my journalism degree. I would have loved reading this book first. Not only is it a great introduction to the subject, but it backs up the information with beautiful visuals. I remember trying to study the tiny black and white images in my textbook at the University of Minnesota. Chip Kidd explains how graphic design is about solving problems. How it involves using content and form to create visuals that communicate messages. How content is what is being communicated while form is how it looks. How form is not only visuals, but typography. Confused? You won't be if you check out this book. It shows it much better than I'm saying it. If you want to learn or have to teach the basics about graphic design then I recommend this book.
Content is the most important aspect of graphic design and the form follows it. Form is how things look on the page. The author uses examples involving size, scale, inversion, placement, juxtaposition and more needed to design unique looks that impact not only the message, but give an emotional impact. His section on colors reveals how they create moods. I remember when Northwest airlines had these red, orange, and yellow colored seats that they found through surveys increased the anxiety of people that were afraid of flying. My dad is an architect and growing up he would always point out "good design and bad designs." He hated when faucets or showers had the hot and cold switched claiming it was bad design because it didn't comply with the norm.
This author points out designs in book covers which I have never thought of before in terms of graphic design. He uses his own examples of the many books he's designed and others. I liked his analysis of R. J. Palacio's book, "Wonder," a story of a boy whose face is horribly deformed. The design shows only part of a kid's face implying that the reader has to fill in the nose and mouth using his or her own imagination. I only recognized one of the author's book cover designs which was Michael Crighton's "Jurassic Park."
The content portion covers topics such as illusion, metaphor, visual flavor, and type design to convey topics. Content is the hardest part of graphic design. In his examples of designing book covers, he explains how he used the content of the book to convey a message. The form section I mentioned already, but there is another section devoted to typography. This shows how the first four letters of the alphabet changed from Phoenician to Greek to Roman to Latin to Modern English. He covers types of topography and what they convey to the audience. Sans-serif is a type of topography that is a bolder way to get a point across to readers; whereas, italics is used for emphasis.
The end of the book has 10 projects for readers to do that are interested in graphic design. He has one page that is a collage of tickets from his trip to Japan. It made me realize how little I look at the visuals around me and think in terms of putting them together to create a piece of art. One of the projects is using typography to create a font specimen or your own logo. A good book for the creative soul.
Content is the most important aspect of graphic design and the form follows it. Form is how things look on the page. The author uses examples involving size, scale, inversion, placement, juxtaposition and more needed to design unique looks that impact not only the message, but give an emotional impact. His section on colors reveals how they create moods. I remember when Northwest airlines had these red, orange, and yellow colored seats that they found through surveys increased the anxiety of people that were afraid of flying. My dad is an architect and growing up he would always point out "good design and bad designs." He hated when faucets or showers had the hot and cold switched claiming it was bad design because it didn't comply with the norm.
This author points out designs in book covers which I have never thought of before in terms of graphic design. He uses his own examples of the many books he's designed and others. I liked his analysis of R. J. Palacio's book, "Wonder," a story of a boy whose face is horribly deformed. The design shows only part of a kid's face implying that the reader has to fill in the nose and mouth using his or her own imagination. I only recognized one of the author's book cover designs which was Michael Crighton's "Jurassic Park."
The content portion covers topics such as illusion, metaphor, visual flavor, and type design to convey topics. Content is the hardest part of graphic design. In his examples of designing book covers, he explains how he used the content of the book to convey a message. The form section I mentioned already, but there is another section devoted to typography. This shows how the first four letters of the alphabet changed from Phoenician to Greek to Roman to Latin to Modern English. He covers types of topography and what they convey to the audience. Sans-serif is a type of topography that is a bolder way to get a point across to readers; whereas, italics is used for emphasis.
The end of the book has 10 projects for readers to do that are interested in graphic design. He has one page that is a collage of tickets from his trip to Japan. It made me realize how little I look at the visuals around me and think in terms of putting them together to create a piece of art. One of the projects is using typography to create a font specimen or your own logo. A good book for the creative soul.
March 8, 2014
Where has this book been all my life? I first became aware of Chip Kidd's design when the classic Batman comics got reissued some years ago. Kidd designed the covers and I remember being so taken aback by the design because it was so stark and unusual. After that, I always kept an eye out for what Chip Kidd was up to.
Then lo and behold, he puts out a guide to graphic design! Throughout GO, Kidd very carefully takes us through the process of not just how he designs, but also teaching us how everything around is designed, from the coffee cups at our coffee shops, to buildings, to the traffic signs on our street. Someone had to design all of it, so to be aware of that is half the battle.
GO covers (what I assume) are all the basics of graphics design, what the covers are supposed to convey, what the meaning and origin is of using font type, the technical aspects of graphics design, and even teaches us a trick or two (like playing with negative space and object size). It's really hard not to be inspired after reading GO. Kidd makes it obvious what sets aside good design from bad, and with so much bad design these days, one wonders how much if that information is going through. So, GO is an obvious choice for aspiring graphics artists, and for those of us who always thought we were graphic designers, it makes us feel an urge and revisit our previous designs.
Go get it.
Then lo and behold, he puts out a guide to graphic design! Throughout GO, Kidd very carefully takes us through the process of not just how he designs, but also teaching us how everything around is designed, from the coffee cups at our coffee shops, to buildings, to the traffic signs on our street. Someone had to design all of it, so to be aware of that is half the battle.
GO covers (what I assume) are all the basics of graphics design, what the covers are supposed to convey, what the meaning and origin is of using font type, the technical aspects of graphics design, and even teaches us a trick or two (like playing with negative space and object size). It's really hard not to be inspired after reading GO. Kidd makes it obvious what sets aside good design from bad, and with so much bad design these days, one wonders how much if that information is going through. So, GO is an obvious choice for aspiring graphics artists, and for those of us who always thought we were graphic designers, it makes us feel an urge and revisit our previous designs.
Go get it.
June 6, 2014
Promoting this at local elementary schools this summer reading season. The kids are actually really responding to the cover, and to the discussion I initiate about book cover and graphic design. And it's been asked for often by the kids who've come into the library.
Although the design is (of course) engaging and lovely, it does seem a little odd as a kids' piece. All of the book cover examples are of adult books (most of them not particularly famous books). And it seems to be written at the sophistication level of the common middle schooler, but all of the photographs of the intended audience are of 8-10 year olds. Tricky.
But the kids seem to get it, so yay.
I love educating kids on marketing manipulation and making them more advertisement savvy. AND giving them the tools to make their voices HEARD.
Although the design is (of course) engaging and lovely, it does seem a little odd as a kids' piece. All of the book cover examples are of adult books (most of them not particularly famous books). And it seems to be written at the sophistication level of the common middle schooler, but all of the photographs of the intended audience are of 8-10 year olds. Tricky.
But the kids seem to get it, so yay.
I love educating kids on marketing manipulation and making them more advertisement savvy. AND giving them the tools to make their voices HEARD.
February 20, 2015
This is an excellent YA design book to introduce kids to design. It presents the information in easy-to-assimilate bits and then gives the kids projects to do in the back, and even a website where they can share them.
It also has nice touches of humor. I particularly like this page on color:
You might not know Chip Kidd's name, but you know his deigns. His most famous one is for the cover of Jurassic Park.
It also has nice touches of humor. I particularly like this page on color:
You might not know Chip Kidd's name, but you know his deigns. His most famous one is for the cover of Jurassic Park.
May 19, 2022
A beautiful book that not only describes various aspects of graphic design but wonderfully illustrates them in every choice of paper, color and typography used.
June 5, 2017
Great book about graphic design - I'll read this again!
Read
April 5, 2021I read this book for my book design class and it was a great introduction to some of the basics. I worked on my college newspaper so I remembered things like picas but also learned new things, too. Chip Kidd, who is well known in the industry for his understated book cover designs, includes many examples of effective design with his and others' work. I took notes so I won't forget the best morsels of this book.
Would recommend anyone interested in design, book covers, typeface, history of graphics.
Would recommend anyone interested in design, book covers, typeface, history of graphics.
January 28, 2018
I'm not in fifth grade, but I do have a love of book design and typography and I have to say--this book was a great overview of graphic design. Of course I can't use it for my thesis, but it got me in the mood to read more after a pretty big break.
July 31, 2014
I did a bit of a double-take when I first saw that this book was aimed at “Grade 5 & up” because the two people I’d formerly heard of it from - my 16 year old cousin & a former coworker - certainly read far above a 5th grade reading level. When I finally read it, it became very clear why the appeal is so wide: Kidd explains the principles of graphic design in a simple and entertaining way that is engaging & entertaining for kids & adults.
He expanded my prior definition of graphic design to include virtually everything we see around us – milk cartons, remote controls, juice boxes – even going so far as to begin his history of the topic with cave paintings. “Most of the decision you make, every day,” Kidd asserts, “are by design,” and his book is a guide to help us make those decisions more effective.
Using numerous examples – mostly books covers (including his own) – Kidd covers a wide range of topics including repetition & pattern, juxtaposition, scale, illusion, and color. His tone is direct and engaging, and the book itself is fun to simply look at, having been designed by, of course, a professional graphic designer. He does not provide any kind of instruction in terms of how to actually execute our ideas (Photoshop, etc.) but a more conceptual understanding of how design works.
He ends the book with 10 suggested design projects, a list of resources, and some advice: “Whatever you do, don’t…STOP”
He expanded my prior definition of graphic design to include virtually everything we see around us – milk cartons, remote controls, juice boxes – even going so far as to begin his history of the topic with cave paintings. “Most of the decision you make, every day,” Kidd asserts, “are by design,” and his book is a guide to help us make those decisions more effective.
Using numerous examples – mostly books covers (including his own) – Kidd covers a wide range of topics including repetition & pattern, juxtaposition, scale, illusion, and color. His tone is direct and engaging, and the book itself is fun to simply look at, having been designed by, of course, a professional graphic designer. He does not provide any kind of instruction in terms of how to actually execute our ideas (Photoshop, etc.) but a more conceptual understanding of how design works.
He ends the book with 10 suggested design projects, a list of resources, and some advice: “Whatever you do, don’t…STOP”
July 2, 2014
Ostensibly for Kidds (I mean kids), Chip Kidd's Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design is in truth worth reading by all ages.
Kidd is a designer who loves design, the history of design, loves designing and loves teaching design. Every page of this graphics-packed book has insight on the creative process, on the thought process required for good design and the infinite number of techniques and tools which can be used in design.
This short but potent book entertainingly covers typography, package design, logos, book and poster design, creative concepts and much more, including suggested do-it-yourself projects which every artist can learn from. I recommend this book!
Kidd is a designer who loves design, the history of design, loves designing and loves teaching design. Every page of this graphics-packed book has insight on the creative process, on the thought process required for good design and the infinite number of techniques and tools which can be used in design.
This short but potent book entertainingly covers typography, package design, logos, book and poster design, creative concepts and much more, including suggested do-it-yourself projects which every artist can learn from. I recommend this book!
February 10, 2019
Librarian friends of mine did a talk on graphic design at a recent conference and they recommended this book. It is an informative and visually interesting introduction. I do a lot of little design projects at work. Learning more about design inspires me to step up my game. I wonder if I can get any of the kids around the library to pick this up. Some of the project ideas at the end might be a solution for : "I'm bored."
Read this again to use with my class. I like it, it makes me think about what I'm looking at.
Read this again to use with my class. I like it, it makes me think about what I'm looking at.
December 26, 2014
I loved this intro to design by a master of book cover design. It's pitched as a book for children, and it would be a great gift for a kid who is interested in art. It's also an informative and fun read for adults who want to know the basics of what goes into the process of designing everything from ads, to posters, to books, to labels, and much more. Makes me want to go back to school and study graphic design!
March 11, 2014
A very quick read (took me an hour) that explains the basics of graphic design simply and visually. Two things I learned from this book that I didn't know: Garamond was the first font and the FedEx logo was designed to create an arrow with the negative space between the letters e and x (I never ever noticed that!) The final chapter contains 10 design projects for the aspiring graphic designer.
October 19, 2014
Great book that is well written and accessible for students. I loved all the examples given by the author, especially since many of them were book covers. Basic principles of design are clearly explained and although many of the examples are for book covers, this book easily applies to what students should be taught about online graphic design. "Always remember: Form follows function."
February 13, 2015
Completely fascinating book that will become a required texts for my classes that are designing graphic projects. If assigning this book made even one kid pause before adding rainbows and sparkly unicorns to a project using orange font on blue background, it could become my favorite book ever.
December 28, 2013
Brilliant and beautiful! For someone who lives and works closely with books, it was especially fun to read Kidd's explanations of many of the book covers he designed.
March 12, 2014
A great book to share with students before a big project that involves any sort of aesthetics as part of their grade. Or just for the art lover who wants to learn more about intentional design.
June 17, 2014
Excellent book for beginners. It is laid out in a step-by-step format, which really helps you to understand the various components in graphic design.
January 19, 2015
What a fabulous intro to graphic design! Read this in a two-hour sitting. Can't stop looking at street signs now. :)
Read
May 1, 2022In the alternate universe where I became a book designer, Chip Kidd would have been my mentor. IN this universe, he is a hero and someone whose covers and novels over the last several decades have shaped my understanding of graphic design. So it was a pleasure to read his introduction to graphic design for kids. His bright, geometric yet chaotic design sense should appeal to kids, and he does an excellent job introducing graphic design concepts and illustrating them in clear, exciting fashion. A lot of fun.
September 23, 2021
This is a fabulous resource for any beginner's guide to graphic design. It's geared towards kids but I didn't feel like it was juvenile in any way. The last chapter has a bunch of graphic design projects that are a great way to practice playing around with these different design principles.
February 23, 2023
An excellent introduction and overview to the many aspects of graphic design. It may be written at a level for younger teens, but it is also suitable for adults who want to learn about the fundamentals of graphic design and its history.
January 12, 2014
“I wish I had this book when I was a kid!” blurbs Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. I have to echo his words with a very emphatic “Me, too!!”
Sadly, I can’t even remember when I first heard the term “graphic design.” I’m pretty sure it wasn’t until I was a teenager. Probably not until high school when I had to start taking those career tests and figuring out how I was going to turn my creative interests into some kind of job with a recognizable title that could pay the bills (um…I’m still working on that part). But even without knowing the term, I loved graphic design from a very early age. While other kids played Monopoly, I designed and created my own board games. While other kids played house, I played travel agent and created my own brochures. While other kids played video games, I played with every single font on my dad’s computer.
Chip Kidd, book design wizard, would have absolutely wowed grade school me. If I had read his smart and fun primer on graphic design when I was a kid, I would have felt like I’d found my mother ship—or at least the manual. Right from the beginning, you know you are going to have fun: the cover features a large red octagon, but instead of the word “STOP,” which is what you’d expect, it has the word “GO,” which is the book’s title. Also, the author playfully uses the spelling of his last name for the subtitle: “A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design.”
What is so fantastic about this book is that Kidd introduces the principles of graphic design in a manner that is simple yet elegant, without ever dumbing down. When explaining how graphic design is different from other types of design, such as architecture, fashion, or industrial design, he says, “graphic design is purely a head trip, from your eyes to your mind.”
And what a head trip he takes his readers on! Every spread that introduces a design principle is itself artful design. Kidd teaches by example, not only using images from his own work and that of other graphic designers, but also using the text of his explanations as part of the visual lesson. On the page that explains inversion, the word “inversion” is printed upside down. However, as can be expected from his inversion of the “STOP” sign on the cover, Kidd also demonstrates the importance of turning familiar concepts upside down in the name of creativity. On a page that discusses the concept of big and small, the word “big” appears in a minuscule type size smaller than the body text while the word “small” is so large it stretches from margin to margin like an attention-grabbing headline.
Best of all, at the end of the book, Kidd encourages his readers to dive into graphic design with several hands-on projects. “Whatever you do, don’t…” he says, “STOP,” with the word “STOP” in a green light circle. Although GO didn’t come out soon enough for me to enjoy as a kid, I think it’s also a great resource for adults, because it reinforces the basics and reminds us that good design is nothing more or less than how each designer sees the world from his or her unique perspective.
Sadly, I can’t even remember when I first heard the term “graphic design.” I’m pretty sure it wasn’t until I was a teenager. Probably not until high school when I had to start taking those career tests and figuring out how I was going to turn my creative interests into some kind of job with a recognizable title that could pay the bills (um…I’m still working on that part). But even without knowing the term, I loved graphic design from a very early age. While other kids played Monopoly, I designed and created my own board games. While other kids played house, I played travel agent and created my own brochures. While other kids played video games, I played with every single font on my dad’s computer.
Chip Kidd, book design wizard, would have absolutely wowed grade school me. If I had read his smart and fun primer on graphic design when I was a kid, I would have felt like I’d found my mother ship—or at least the manual. Right from the beginning, you know you are going to have fun: the cover features a large red octagon, but instead of the word “STOP,” which is what you’d expect, it has the word “GO,” which is the book’s title. Also, the author playfully uses the spelling of his last name for the subtitle: “A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design.”
What is so fantastic about this book is that Kidd introduces the principles of graphic design in a manner that is simple yet elegant, without ever dumbing down. When explaining how graphic design is different from other types of design, such as architecture, fashion, or industrial design, he says, “graphic design is purely a head trip, from your eyes to your mind.”
And what a head trip he takes his readers on! Every spread that introduces a design principle is itself artful design. Kidd teaches by example, not only using images from his own work and that of other graphic designers, but also using the text of his explanations as part of the visual lesson. On the page that explains inversion, the word “inversion” is printed upside down. However, as can be expected from his inversion of the “STOP” sign on the cover, Kidd also demonstrates the importance of turning familiar concepts upside down in the name of creativity. On a page that discusses the concept of big and small, the word “big” appears in a minuscule type size smaller than the body text while the word “small” is so large it stretches from margin to margin like an attention-grabbing headline.
Best of all, at the end of the book, Kidd encourages his readers to dive into graphic design with several hands-on projects. “Whatever you do, don’t…” he says, “STOP,” with the word “STOP” in a green light circle. Although GO didn’t come out soon enough for me to enjoy as a kid, I think it’s also a great resource for adults, because it reinforces the basics and reminds us that good design is nothing more or less than how each designer sees the world from his or her unique perspective.
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