Chip Kidd
“A good book cover
makes you want to
pick it up… end of
story”.
Chip Kid interview 2004
Chip Kidd is known
to be a master in
contemporary book
jacket design. To the
left is one of his
designs used for his
own book.
At only 43 years of
age he has made
over 1500 book
covers in his career.
He averages about
75 in a given year.
He has designed
covers for wellknown authors like,
Dean Koontz and
Anne Rice.
Even a few famous
actors.
Kidd is a product of
“Pop Culture”, and
that can be seen in
this design to the
left.
One of his wellknown covers was
designed for
Michael Crichton’s
book, Jurassic
Park.
Kidd always reads all or most of the
books before he starts designing the
cover.
Kidd is an avid
Batman memorabilia
collector. This
obsession has gone
into his designing
many Batman and
Superhero covers.
He has written
several books
regarding design.
Even a few novels.
The one to the left is
a somewhat
“coming-of-age”
novel describing a
few semesters at
college.
In this cover, Kidd
has used images of
two men and a
female in the
middle. This
corresponds great
with the story of the
book, which is a
“love triangle”.
Here we see Kidd’s
wittiness by using a
fork and spoon in a
napkin, trying to
portray a husband
and wife in bed.
Kidd gives a unique
approach by making
the type seem to
“bleed” as seen
here.
Album covers have
also been done, as
seen here for
musician Paul
Simon.
In 1997 Kidd won
the International
Center of
Photography award
for use of
photography in his
designs.
Chip Kidd will
continue to
amaze us with
his excellent
designs, and
will inspire
graphic
designers for
years to come.
Bibliography
http://www.weeklywire.com/ww/current/austin_books_feature4.html
http://www.esquire.com/the-side/qu/chipkidd061807
http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.2461197/k.FEBC/Past_Recipie
nts_19962006.htm
http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/events/chip_kidd_has_two_turntable
s_a_microphone_and_a_national_design_award_69381.asp
http://www.goodisdead.com
Kidd, Chip. Chip Kidd: Book-One: Work: 1986-2006 Rizzoli, 2005.com/