unstrungstudio

This is a new flashlight entry for Chip Kidd, who spoke at the Portfolio Center on November 9. Quantifying Chip's presentation in a single, notable sound bite has been difficult, but here it goes. In sum, I think that the most valuable piece of Chip's presentation dealt with his "awareness of the world around him." This point might have been largely unspoken. In other words, his attention to the world around him is a big part of his success, whether he is discovering a new artist, whose work he'll use in a design, or taking pictures of "The Big Nozzo." This approach is translated into his work, because he seems to constantly look for the root of a book's message, and then, he translates that message into his design for the jacket. Chip is an entertaining presenter, but his work is exceptionally thoughtful, which implies a greater understanding of his subject and the resulting concept. When thinking about this entry, I returned to his comments concerning the cover for Paul Simon's Surprise. While listening to the album, he noticed that all of songs included water in some shape or form. This realization informed his concept for the CD cover and booklet. In short, I think that designers have to be open and aware of their environment. You never know when you'll stumble across an incredible idea or a subtle theme that you can use.

posted by J.  # 11:03 AM