Chip Kidd: Book One
by Bennett Holzworth, (4 comments)
Paula Scher commented in her introduction to Make it Bigger, that one of the worst things about doing a monograph of your life’s work is that people will assume that you are finished. From the title of his forthcoming book, Chip Kidd: Book One: Work: 1986-2006,
Although designers seem to get more respect from the critics if they let someone else design their monograph, I can’t imagine anyone besides Kidd himself designing his own. It is always interesting to see what kind of insane production/printing techniques a designer can get away with when it comes to a book about their own work. Will Kidd top the grandeur and uniqueness of monographs designed by Sagmeister, House Industries or Scher? Lets just hope that the content is as interesting as his designs and that this book generates as many conversations about design as Cheese Monkeys has.
Even though this book doesn’t come out until October, I might just pre-order mine today … who I am kidding, I would pre-order Book Two if that was an option.
Comments (4)
Adrian said:
“Who are you KIDDing?”
Ha! Nice pun. Hey, I was looking at the Sin City cover that Kidd designed. Pretty weak I thought, considering the visually fertile subject matter he had to work with. I guess it is better than reusing an image from the movie or something…
Posted on May 26, 2005
Bennett said:
Honestly, the pun was unintended.
I also need to correct myself. Paula Scher’s quote was not in the forward but the over. Here is the actual quote.
A designer I respect warned me that the danger of doing a book on my own work, beyond the obvious egotism involved, is that after its publication I’d be “over.” Paula Scher
Posted on May 27, 2005
Kyle said:
Who has read “Make it Bigger” by Paula Scher? Is it any good? It was recommended to me at last year’s HOW conference, and am now getting around to thinking about reading it. (I was just cleaning up my iCal To Do items….I guess digital lists don’t work for me!)
Posted on June 24, 2005
Bennett said:
Kyle, I really enjoyed Make It Bigger. It is not just a pretty book either. Paula addresses some very real issues. There are many examples of how to work with clients, how to present to them and how to choose them (if you have that luxury). It is also a great visual resource with very interesting binding and printing. I think it was one of the selections for AIGA’s 50 Books/50 Covers. I would say it is one of the better design books that I have read.
Posted on June 24, 2005