Q1 Who was the biggest influence in your life, good or bad?
My two graphic design teachers in college — Penn State University — Lanny Sommese and Bill Kinser. Good, BTW. I combined the two of them to create the uber-teacher Winter Sorbeck in my novel The Cheese Monkeys.
Q2 It’s said that God hands out traits like real estate options: You’ll never get everything. If the traits handed out are looks, brains, creativity, family, fortune, success and happiness, which one (or more) did you not get?
I’d say I’d beat the odds and got them all. OK, except for looks.
Q3 What is the best perk that comes with being a famous designer?
I don’t think of myself as a famous designer — seriously, one has to have a healthy sense of perspective. But I will say that I love that people are so nice to me at design conferences. It’s amazingly touching.
Q+ If you weren’t a designer, what would you do and why?
I would have more seriously pursued acting and being a musician.
Chip Kidd is a designer, author, editor and musician; he also publishes the blog Good Is Dead. Among his books are The Cheese Monkeys, The Learners and Chip Kidd: Book One: Work: 1986–2006. He is also the vocalist, percussionist, lyricist and co-songwriter in the band artbreak. He is currently creating an astonishing succession of unforgettable book covers at Knopf. Collect them all, kids (and the books are worth reading, too).
