This was an assignment for SCAD's GRDS 348 Graphic Design Studio I class. I had to create a post card promoting book cover designer Chip Kidd.

The paper texture and book are both stock images from sxc.hu. The watercolor brushes are from somewhere on dA. I know, I'm horrible for not citing my sources, but it took a long time to find the resources in the first place, so please excuse my laziness.

Chip Kidd, who is often regarded as a "rockstar of Graphic Design," is one of the most famous book cover designers in the world. In an interview with AVClub ([link]), Kidd recalls one of the most important lessons he learned in college.

"One of the things I learned while majoring in graphic design in college, that I've always taken very much to heart... The teacher one day drew an apple on the blackboard, and then wrote the word "apple" underneath it. He pointed to the whole thing and he said, "You should never do this." He covered up the picture and said, "You either just have the word," then covered up the word and said, "or you just have the picture. But don't do both." It's insulting to the reader, or the viewer, or whoever."

For this assignment, I decided to follow Kidd's mantra. Inside of this typical, aged book could be an amazing work of literature, or a cheap, cheesy romance novel you can pick up for $1.99 at your local supermarket. You really can't tell from the cover or the outside. This is where designers and Chip Kidd enter the picture. They bring life to pounds of dried paper pulp with ink pressed on them.

I didn't want to create a cover that looked like Chip Kidd's, that was too obvious and insulting to the audience. I wanted to explore the possibilities of what may or may not be inside the book. I also wanted to bring life to the book, showing it can be attractive, without a lot of modification. The watercolor splashes behind the book create attention and beauty to a book that would look dull otherwise. The stamp on the back features a photograph of Chip Kidd.

Describing my process and thought process for this project were, and still are very challenging. I hope I was able to convey my concept to you, my audience, without being overly obvious.

Comments and critique very welcome and appreciated.