Over at the WALL STREET JOURNAL Website a Reporter named Nicholas Carr has written a very excellent article on the possible death of eBooks and the e-Readers people use to read them (Kobo, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony eReader & Amazon Kindle). Now, we don’t mean to be too harsh here ( ha ha! ) but for awhile now a lot of Book Critics have been saying that these new devices will ruin print media. We love books, real books, and hope that never happens.

Anyways, the article is really great, check it out, just CLICK HERE!

Hey Everybody! For your listening enjoyment we have embedded this excellent recording of Book Authors Chris Ware and Zadie Smith as they recently appeared at the New York Public Library for an event known as “Live From The NYPL”. Following the release of Chris Ware's new Graphic Novel, BUILDING STORIES (Pantheon Books), and Zadie Smith's newest novel, NW (an exploration of a set of characters in a London neighborhood) the two come together on stage to discuss the role of space and place in their own works. The event went really well & it’s quite interesting to hear from these 2 Artists. Also, this thing lasts for almost 2 hours! So, please give it a listen.

Narrated by Jonathan Ames, this fifteen minute documentary investigates Gary Shteyngart’s prolific book blurbing, talking with the the many authors who have been blurbed by Gary, book critics, journalists, editors, book jacket designers, and even the man who created a Tumblr devoted to Shteyngart’s blurbs. Features Ron Charles, A.J. Jacobs, A.M. Homes, Molly Ringwald, Karen Russell, Dinaw Mengestu, and many more!

This week please be sure to pick-up the recent issue of The New Yorker Magazine ( Jan 7, 2013 ). For two reasons: 1. It’s an insanely great publication, and 2. Our Friend, the Artist, Chris Ware did the cover art and his artwork, as always, is totally amazing! The “message” of the cover was inspired by the recent Newtown Shooting Tragedy. Plus, it also responds to a previous cover that he did that had a “Back To School” theme and now, the recent event changed his feeling on that. OK, am I making sense here? Sorry, actually Chris Ware wrote a very excellent article explaining everything and how he came about the idea for the new cover and it’s over at the New Yorker website ( link down below).

You can read Chris Ware’s article by visiting this link, THE NEW YORKER.

Oh yeah, here’s an image of his previous cover we mentioned:

I don’t know why, but somehow this older Podcast Interview with Designer Chip Kidd popped-up on a recent Google search. Like, I thought it was brand-new, but later I found out it was recorded back in 2008. That’s so weird. Yes, this is from five years ago! But hang-on a second, it’s still great to listen to and fun to revisit. This was posted on a website called 36POINT where they cover many different aspects of Graphic Design. There, they have a Podcast called “The Reflex Blue Show” and Chip was interviewed by Nate Voss and Donovan Beery. The questions they pose are pretty interesting and, overall, the discussion is most excellent! They also talk about some book projects that Kidd had going on at that time like Batman’s Bat-Manga, Watching The Watchmen, and his own two novels, Cheese Monkeys and The Learners.

Hey, Go give it a listen! CLICK HERE

At one time or another we have all seen the famous “Futurama Fry” meme. I mean, it’s all over the internet! Well, here’s one we randomly came across the other day and was sort of shocked, and very honored, to see because it features “Chip Kidd”. Plus, it’s pretty funny!! Hey, thanks to whoever made it.

HarperCollins just announced that they will be creating a beautiful print edition of Neil Gaiman's inspirational "Make Good Art" Graduation Speech that was delivered to the 2012 graduating class of Philadelphia's University of the Arts. The edition will be designed, inside and out, by Book Designer (and Batman collector) Chip Kidd. It is sure to be THE perfect gift book. "Make Good Art" will be out May 14th.

In May 2012, bestselling author Neil Gaiman delivered the commencement address at Philadelphia's University of the Arts, in which he shared his thoughts about creativity, bravery, and strength. He encouraged the fledgling painters, musicians, writers, and dreamers to break rules and think outside the box. Most of all, he urged them to make good art.

LINKS:

Excellent write-up at the HUFFINGTON POST Arts & Culture page.

Video of Neil Gaiman’s Complete MAKE GOOD ART Graduation Speech on YouTube.

To see the full-complete Book Cover, both front and back, please be sure to visit our GALLERY PAGE.

Here’s another Karen Kavett “Graphic Design” Instructional Video we knew we needed to post and not just because she’s cute but also because it features some great information about what you need to know before going to press.

OFFSET is an annual 3 day conference that takes place in Ireland. Every year they feature an impressive line-up of creative people who speak about their work, techniques, inspiration and problems. This year one of their speakers was the extremely talented Poster Artist and Graphic Designer, Olly Moss. In the video down below Olly talks about how he got started and shares his design process that he goes through with every job he gets. He also gives out some good advice.

Also, Check this out, here is Chip Kidd’s lecture on Book Cover Design when he was a guest back in 2009:

Just a quick post to share the good news that the GALLERY PAGE of ChipKidd.Com has just been heavily updated and there is a ton of brand-new eye candy to enjoy! Most of the newly added graphics are Book Jacket designs that will be appearing in 2013. You can get there by clicking the GALLERY TAB up above or just CLICK HERE. Please check ‘em out, they’re fun! Oh yeah, while there, please be sure to view “Page Two” by clicking the NEXT Button. Also, if you can, please share this website with all your friends. We have SHARE Buttons all over the place. Yes, we’re total whores, ha!!