Chip Kidd: The art of first impressions - in design and life

Book designer Chip Kidd knows all too well how often we judge things by first appearances. In this hilarious, fast-paced talk, he explains the two techniques designers use to communicate instantly - clarity and mystery - and when, why and how they work. He celebrates beautiful, useful pieces of design, skewers less successful work, and shares the thinking behind some of his own iconic book covers.
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[@Jay-ei4cr]

I cannot stress how much I enjoy watching this man speak. :)

[@beaulandon3714]

instaBlaster...

[@SH0dah]

he fixed his glasses :)

[@CoxJoxSox]

And here I thought it was a new style of Pince nez

[@paillette2010]

Deep observation that clearly misses the points

[@DonnaMarie113]

Or did he have them fixed??? That might only be a mere impression you got from watching this video after viewing video your observation is quite cleverly referring to.

[@kevinngomez2461]

He told me when I met him, he sat on them. They’re from England, so it’ll take a month to get them back. So the glasses were designed to be perfect balanced.

[@lilybrink8248]

I love how he explains his thought-process with each design.

[@valentinoshoes9664]

So he was the one who designed murukami's book! Great work! When i first saw it i wanted to buy it immediately because the cover design was so enigmatic and meaningful yet minimal.

[@MrMongo321]

Chip has a very good sense of humor!

[@LynnBaber]

The minimalist Diet Coke can is a FANTASTIC illustration of how to tell a story. Just enough to let the reader's imagination get a good workout. Movie adaptations are seldom as good as the book because nothing is left to the imagination. The experience is not as personal.

[@nilelivingston]

First impressions are everything, that's why I love this graphic designer's ability to create works that are clear and mysterious.

[@swsephy]

Loved this talk. Entertaining and informative.

[@pipelinepunch3516]

I just started highschool and havent been sure what path to take as a career but i know i love to read and i love art, then i saw this and realised that going into graphic design and being able to make interpretive peices like yours for book covers is what i want to do, Thank you.

[@irinagonzalez2988]

This man is the best thing that's happened to me today.

[@kellyberry4173]

I'm with you👈fantastic!!!

[@stonephilips9361]

Chip is so modest about his work!

[@stellaq3306]

Chip Kidd really lifts my spirits. So does Christoph Niemann. Wonderful humour, so informative & ultra inspiring. 😍

[@Bestbeachesincalifornia]

this is EXACTLY what I imagine a new yorker to be like. Knew it before he said it. Love it.

[@elisebutler177]

Love this! Thank you Chip Kidd for articulating a designers thought process so well!

[@mgg5418]

I could listen to this guy all the time. I love his creative thought process.

[@thaicromer1121]

The creative process and inspirations behind his art is so refreshing and colorful! The most entertaining TED talk I've yet to watch. I will definitely be checking out "Judge This" when it comes out.

[@turnerfinegardens5865]

Outstanding, and an amusing window into the art of design, as it were.

[@priyankasalelkar3564]

7 years have passed and still so relatable! Loved it :)

[@2feetofclay]

Watched this twice! Best TED Talk I have seen. Maybe the other end on the back cover would have been ok. Hope to see more.

[@lavb6358]

I agree completely! Great TED talk!

[@Zerkush]

Information was very sterling and on an enjoyable platform.

[@aneeshchengappa]

Yup this is a really nice TED talk :) thumbs up !

[@LH-ro2ot]

I could listen to him all day

[@kellyberry4173]

Absolutely astounding. Love ART.... WELL DONE!!!

[@doomcloud3164]

So grateful for such a great presentation! Entertaining and informative!!!

[@Heliyum]

Ah, thank god. Enjoyable content.

[@sethecx]

Heliyum Flamboyantly so. He even seemed to be on helium at times.

[@Heliyum]

sethecx It's pretty yummy.

[@Heliyum]

sethecx No, not that at all.

[@arthurdent6256]

sethecx No, he's on Coke.

[@sethecx]

not necessarily

[@lauramoreira4439]

his talks are so good

[@wolf1066]

Instantly recognised the initial five strokes as "Charley Brown". Very interesting and well-presented talk.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Always a pleasance seeing this dude!

[@ScottStruzik]

19 minutes of fascinating!

[@ridita5221]

This man is amazing. Great talent and unique imagination. I wish I could meet him in person.

[@kellyberry4173]

Absolutely!!! 😉

[@AntoRukbo]

great speech.

[@unaanguila]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[@cseeger1]

Ah, TED Garage Talks. Clever. Great talk and insight into the mind of perhaps our best contemporary book designer.

[@bubbles02010]

omg these book cover designs r genius!

[@jetsonjoe]

Awesome presentation...Thanks.

[@Hooghog]

Very good talk

[@AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor]

Thanks! You gave me an idea for a great book cover!

[@jmimsy1589]

Well said. Well read!

[@alexpovivity1065]

I could listen to him all day. I don't know why

[@StarrlaRo]

He was funny, really liked this TED talk

[@YaelKaner]

Very interesting to a beginner graphic arts student.

[@kellyberry4173]

INDEED...

[@BESTPublishing]

Chris I loved this video. Keep up the great work. It shows that we should let our minds go free and create. Thanks

[@kellyberry4173]

Grand comment!!!

[@strengthxphilosophy]

This was very interesting and entertaining - thanks Chip! :)

[@parratvmail2570]

Strength And Philosophy TRUTH!

[@1919mandy1919]

Strength And Philosophy nice channel

[@snowy5599]

I want him to have his own channel. Please let me know if he does... such a good speaker.

[@yardmasterswealtheducation8424]

I am looking forward to applying this to how I present my company and our services during a bid appointment!

[@bluejemm]

Love it!

[@uzlowed]

very interesting

[@MaJoRMJR]

It's good to know that the way I think about design is similar to the way he does, although admittedly I'm not as good as him, but at least I'm on the right road to success

[@kellyberry4173]

YES YOU ARE!!!... Good luck to you! ART makes life so much MORE!!!

[@attheranch873]

Excellent!!!

[@Studeb]

I enjoyed his appearance on Gilbert Grape's Podcast.

[@Bob-np2uc]

Would highly recommend the book

[@theworldeatswithyou]

It's so nice that he shares work of his that has been rejected. Very interesting. :)

[@kellyberry4173]

And humble... I strive for art.. But it's never easy for me.

[@letsbehappygolucky]

His way of understanding of "Colorless Tsukuru Tasaki" by Haruki Murakami is very interesting: Logic. Very different from mine: Chaos. Is this because he read the book in English and I in Japanese?

[@yvettedean92]

Haha the subway holds a lot of inspiration 🎨 what a super interesting man

[@user-lb5cm5wg7k]

omg this dude is hillariooooouuuuuussssss

[@kellyberry4173]

BRAVO!!! 👏👏👏👏

[@MorganGrammer]

Designers inspire me to think

[@kellyberry4173]

Designers INSPIRE US ALL.. THANK GOD FOR EM!!!

[@danielmoir790]

'NO 4 TRAINS WILL BE RUNNING' could easily be misread (as no is often shorthand for number)... surprised he didnt go for something like ' will not be running' if he redesigned for clarity ... but im not a professional graphic designer, so what do i know

[@AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor]

Totally agree! I read "no" as "number".

[@1stargazer12]

I’d there was a persons of the “no” I would read it like that, plus the 4 had the circle, so it was made slightly clearer that the “No” wasn’t shorthand for number

[@FongYukYu]

The circle encasing the 4 should clarify any confusion & when "no" is short for "number," the 'n' is usually capitalized & followed by a period to indicate an abbreviation ("No.")

[@yardmasterswealtheducation8424]

"Fraud" --- What an amazing incidental troll! Lovin' it!

[@somethingdiscreet]

Is that Irvine Welsh at 3:57?

[@infinitesimotel]

Mystery is never meant to be revealed. It is a box that keeps on opening. If the mystery can be resolved then it has failed in itself and ceases to have been one. It is the eternal chase that never ends, mystery is there to draw you in and never provide an answer that is absolute.

[@djdjew]

This is fucking great.

[@Lishkafe]

I want 1/17 of this guy's confidence

[@HamzaAnsari1425]

14:43 - she's so cute

[@nanditamenon6759]

3:58 Is that Uther Pendragon

[@fuzer909]

Love that he designed my favorite cover of all time, Jurassic Park.

[@enricosarmiento4152]

From a guy who made the cover for Jurassic Park novel He's really funny

[@electranavarone4385]

I'd be surprised if you didn't put a rear end of the digestive system on the back cover. You know, front to back, top to bottom, cover to cover.

[@stellaq3306]

*

[@nsytr06]

Spirit animal.

[@moeskido]

Usability!

[@jonathancorea1]

Genius

[@zaddy131]

the Japanese flag and LA cover tho damn

[@kellyberry4173]

Agreed... WOW... I was speechless ..

[@DanielBrownsan]

When did a portfolio presentation - brilliantly marshalled though it was - become a TED talk?

[@lunalovegood1326]

12:50 17:40

[@mr.patfishstarrick9869]

Song Please?

[@myeverything5797]

9:56 that fake laugh doe

[@marsidabushi8530]

Hardly anyone knows how much is gained by ignoring the future. (quote)

[@rickhughesprints]

I think he was supposed to say the 4 was NOT running so take the 5 instead. Clarity is good as long as meaning is not compromised.

[@hebamadi265]

Hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am rolling on the floor tears in my eyes of laughter this guy is a genius👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 fantastic

[@TinyFord1]

And how well did that book sell?

[@123cache123]

The title is completely misleading, a Fraud, I'd say ;)

[@odddraft]

IDEAGASM

[@MrLiam241]

When it comes to amusement, this crowd believes in moderation.

[@shawnlowery6246]

Alex Lifeson at Rush's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Best speech ever. Blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. True fans knew what he meant

[@TheStrivingmuslim]

! or ? Clarity or Mystery And the cover of the book tells a thousand stories.

[@AtheismTheNewGimmickAmerica]

Why do the " " go in different directions?

[@vOyOr]

I thought for the first few minutes that his lapel was turned inward and I was really irritated. Haha.

[@TobiasGresser]

14:35 The time range is missing.

[@calmbbaer]

The idea behind the cover of Fraud is identical to that behind Randy Newman's box set, released three years prior: Take a dignified cover and scrawl over it, indicating the negativity of the title - "Guilty" rather than "Fraud" in Newman's case: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilty:_30_Years_of_Randy_Newman . It would be interesting to know whether this was great minds thinking alike, accidental plagiarism, or intentional.

[@MilordZacH123]

Huh, when I first got the “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki” book, I really disliked its design. But now I know, that I just disliked the way it was butchered while being translated into Russian. They kind did the whole hand thing but removed the text inside and replaced it with lines (I think it supposed to be train tracks) and placed everything inside this tasteless gray square on the black cover (without any jacket). And the whole thing, including the way they placed name of the author and book title, just makes it look like the design was done entirely in Ms Word. Seriously I would had never gotten this book if I didn’t receive it as a present.

[@daxxonjabiru428]

At the beginning, I was pretty sure one of us was having a stroke.

[@MS-gv6jd]

he said "please buy my book. it's available on amazon and barnes and nobles. you won't regret it. thank you"

[@113dmg9]

Why does title "Gulp" have a period next to it?

[@DonnaMarie113]

What is on spine of Charlie Brown book?

[@mischa2643]

"Only what's necessary" apparently.... 😂

[@Liz-tj6ll]

Chip Kidd is a legend, but I’m noticing as I watch his talks that he will never say the title of a book. I wonder why that is

[@JCDealy]

Imagine a 5 year old that notices something... That "I'm the only one who knows this" might last a minute.... I just watched 18 minutes of little Jack Horner... "What a good boy am I!".

[@nerdybunny2367]

@12:07 - and Japanese flag?!

[@Esiggies]

The art of first impressions. A bloke telling me what he does for a living (! Fantastic ?)

[@ChillToThisSong]

A job sbout first impressions.

[@properbrzo5113]

Yea yea yea, who's the blonde 😍

[@myrazini6630]

You still live like this?