Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design, by Chip Kidd (book review) – design is everywhere we look

book cover of Go A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd published by WorkmanColor and contrast,
Fonts and spaces,
Scale and repetition,
Graphic design is everywhere.

Chip Kidd has designed book covers for the past 27 years, “putting a face on the story” as he says in his so-funny TED talk. He created the Jurassic Park logo, so he really knows his stuff.

Don’t be fooled the “board book” chunky cardboard cover or the youthful voices on the clever book trailer — this is a thorough and intriguing guide for young (and not-so-young) adults who want to better understand design.

Go  has deservedly been named a 2014 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction finalist. Find it at your favorite local library or independent bookstore today, and start seeing the human-made objects around you in a different light.

How would you re-design your favorite book cover? Chip is waiting for your entry at http://gothebook.tumblr.com/challenge!
**kmm

Book info:  Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design / Chip Kidd. Workman Publishing, 2013.  [author site]  [publisher site]  [book trailer] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Graphic design is all around us – but how do you know what works if you’re creating your own? Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design can tell and show you everything.

From defining precisely what graphic design is (“Everything that is not made by nature is designed by someone.” p.6) to the parts which make up every design – form, typography, content, concept – Chip Kidd provides clear explanations and spot-on examples.

Explore the history of graphic design from cave paintings to now, positive and negative space, kerning and picas, Pantone colors, and much more as illustrated by book covers (many designed by Kidd) and advertisements from many eras.

After you’ve experimented with color grids and decided on which of 25 fonts feels like you, work through the 10 graphic design projects which wrap up the book (your personal logo!) and post your favorites on the book’s website. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

What do you think?

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