Chip Kidd

David Sedaris' new book comes out June 3, 2008, "When You Are Engulfed In Flames." The title, as I found out is superfluous, though it comes from a Japanese government issued instructional manual, something like... "What to do when the United States drops a nuclear weapon on you."
The cover is designed by Chip Kidd, a notable designer and author of "The Cheese Monkeys" (a semi autobiographical novel about a kid's first year as a graphic design major).
He came to Grand Valley to speak today, which I initially thought it would be about his new book "the Learners;" surprisingly, it was about his career as a graphic designer, and more specifically his tribulations with designing book covers. Especially the new Sedaris book; I got the impression he was at the mercy of what David wanted and the bajillion different titles Sedaris pulled out of his ass.
He gave personal accounts of how difficult authors, editors, and marketers can be, and as a designer you are at their mercy. He said this with more umph and f-bombs though so the lecture was undoubtedly funnier than me retelling it.

julez
his Website
his Band
Promo for "The Learners"
(and also this is a good art lesson in form and content)