Chip Kidd

by Veronique Vienne

Chip Kidd is renowned and revered as a maverick graphic designer. Specifically, Kidd's book jacket designs for such major New York publishers as Alfred A. Knopf are among the most significant and innovative of our time. This richly illustrated book-the first critical selection of Kidd's design work-looks closely at this contemporary visual pioneer. VŽronique Vienne presents a full and nuanced view of Kidd, discussing how he has developed celebrity status as a designer, design critic, lecturer, and editor. She also relates how Kidd is greatly influenced by popular culture, noting his vast collection of Batman memorabilia. Vienne concludes by examining Kidd's editorial involvement with books on cartoonists as well as his own first novel, The Cheese Monkeys, published in 2001 to critical acclaim. Chip Kidd reveals the fascinating life and career of a revolutionary graphic designer with a winning public persona, whose ambitions now also lean toward editing and writing. The book will appeal to anyone involved in design and popular culture as well as admirers of Kidd's extraordinary creative spirit.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Art, Biography, Comics

112 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2003

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wished for more discussion about the thinking process behind the covers that Kidd designed. As it is though, the book is basically a short essay and a collection of incredible book cover designs...

[Beth Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, read it in one sitting. As a graphic designer Chip Kidd has been a big inspiration for me, his book cover designs are phenomenal and reading about how he got to were he is now is really interesting. Also seeing a wide range of his work and the differences or simularitys between them gave me something to consider in my own future. Anyway i really enjoyed this and continue to love Chip Kidd.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is far from the definitive Chip Kidd compendium. It does, however, give a nice introduction to Kidd's revolutionary book design work. Totally worth picking up in a half-price bin (just like I did.)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating montage of the work of the fabulous graphic designer, Chip Kidd. Love his Batman memorabilia.

[Jordan Sovereign · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool

[Tory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something to open my mind. Think of things differently.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chip Kidd = my hero.

This book is mostly just a bunch of bookcovers that Chip Kidd has desginged, which is awesome and cool because now I have like 50 more books to look out for.. some of the books I'd never heard of and they looked AWESOME.

Also: I got this thing at the cute little in-town bookstore for 7 bucks. YAAAy. Imma miss the bookstore..

[jonathan berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen Kidd's book covers around, but didn't know too much about him. This was a nice quick introduction, and it led me to want to read his novel.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

to judge a book by its cover...chip kidd, THE cover designer.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kidd is only one of my heroes in book design. I adore him. J'adore!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

maybe my favorite graphic designer?

[Jeremy Watt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a coffee table.

[A.C. Bauch]

I don't think it fair to rate a book or add it to my annual book total when I've only browsed it. However, I enjoyed perusing this book and going on a graphic design adventure via viewing Kidd's book covers. I especially appreciated seeing the books from different angles (e.g., the fore edge of The Cheese Monkeys.