I was reminded of this first book by Chip Kidd while putting this new site together and realizing I should read more — not just reference guides, but actual novels.
This title crossed my path again while visiting the solid Creative Mornings blog. This particular post was about powerful email signatures. This is a delicate topic… I am of the mindset that the most minimal of signatures is the best. Image attachments are the worst offenses, but any content that detracts from the core message should be reserved for your social media bio or personal website. There, I said it.
But I still thought this bit from the aforementioned post resonated:
For Aimee D., reading The Cheese Monkeys, a novel by Chip Kidd, changed everything. She randomly found it at a book sale while in high school more than 20 years ago, a serendipitous discovery. “It inspired me to become a graphic designer, and the quote below speaks volumes to me as a designer. I never change my signature.”
Here’s the quote from The Cheese Monkeys that Aimee includes in her never-changing email signature:
“Kiddies, Graphic Design, if you wield it effectively, is Power. Power to transmit ideas that change everything. Power that can destroy an entire race or save a nation from despair.”
Chip Kidd
It’s heavy to think about that last line in context, but it’s also a reminder that design has the potential to inspire good change.