Chip Kidd's The Learners Review
by Bennett Holzworth, (5 comments)
To start off, I thought this little video I shot would be the best way to show you the design of The Learners
I have to admit that since I first learned that Chip was working on a follow-up to The Cheese Monkeys
While there are plenty of basic descriptions out there on this book, here is my two sentence summary (the summary from the publisher is more clear). After Happy has graduated from State he goes out to find his dream job at the firm his (de)mentor Winter Sorbeck, worked at. We follow Happy from his interview, to his first weeks and subsequent perils of dealing with clients and the things they promote.
The design of the book itself is much more understated than The Cheese Monkeys. No scanned textures or printing on the edge of the pages and covers. But as always, Chip has a few tricks up his jacket (sorry). If you get the book, don’t forget to play with bending the pages over and also look for intentional ink bleed through from the back of the page. The diagonally cut book jacket is also a fun touch on the cover, and it also might reveal a little about the off balance nature of what is inside.
If you listened to Debbie’s recent interview with Chip (I would wait until after you read the book to listen, I think they reveal too much about the book), they talk about how much darker this book is than its prequel. While this is true, I finished The Learners feeling much less depressed. While The Cheese Monkeys was a fun ride, I finished the book a bit confused and almost angry. The ending of it was like a David Lynch/Spike Jonze ending tacked onto a Cameron Crowe/Gus Van Sant movie. While this sequel was a more depressed journey, I felt there was an interesting resolution.
While I didn’t exactly “enjoy” The Learners as much as I did The Cheese Monkeys, it was a fascinating ride and I felt my time with Happy was too short. While it appears that Chip has grown as a writer, I don’t think I will ever experience the joy of connecting with a character as much as I did with Happy over five years ago. To follow a student and see his eyes open was like taking a trip down memory lane. While I can easily recall the early days of being the pee-on designer that Happy has become, it is hard to feel the depression, pain and guilt that he is experiencing. Instead of experiencing this bit with Happy, I just sympathize with his character and wish I could help.
I recommend getting out there and reading one of the very few fiction books that deals with graphic design. I would read it even if it was mediocre, but luckily for us Chip is almost as talented as a writer as he is a book designer. Here’s to seeing and reading Chip’s works for years to come.
Comments (5)
jonathan said:
Hi, Bennett. Just wanted to let you know that, as long as it’s okay with you, I’ve heisted your video to use it on The Learners page at Good Is Dead (Chip’s official site, but it looks like you knew that already). Thanks for making it, and if there is an issue with our using it, just let me know.
Thanks again.
Posted on March 3, 2008
Bennett Holzworth said:
Jonathan, Thanks for the comment. You’re more than welcome to keep the video on the site. Thanks.
Posted on March 3, 2008
michael said:
bennett,
you have surprisingly beautiful hands for a carpenter.
michael
Posted on March 5, 2008
michael said:
it annoys me how there is that spread at the begining with the full book title in the middle (32 sec.), and you can see chips face though the page. he should have reversed it so his face would be revealed and come together through the spread. really hard to explain, but hopefully you get it. i really dig the broken type though. other than that, chip is a chump in my book. shit, i don’t have a book and he does. chip wins.
Posted on March 5, 2008
Bennett said:
I’m a professional, I use hand models! Besides, nobody would want to see my “Maybelline” style/utility blade gash on my thumb.
Side Note: J.P. Pruitt wasn’t available for this shoot.
Posted on March 5, 2008