Charles Brock’s (almost) 60 second presentation at this year’s AIGA’s Make/Think conference. Being a book designer, Charles has an (*ahem) unique perspective on the Kindle. To clarify, nothing of value was destroyed in the making of this film.
I agree with Clay10mograf. The video is fun, but hoping it isn’t our true reaction as designers. If so, we might as well join up with the Luddites in a futile cause : )
This video is an expression of fear. It’s a group of skilled and talented horse trainers smashing an early automobile in the town square.
Like crappy early cars, the Kindle is not the future of books. The Kindle will fail, for a variety of reasons. But make no mistake, it will not be the last of its kind. E-books will eventually succeed once publishers and readers are ready for it.
And designers: There’s nothing to fear. Design will always be central to books, whether they’re paper or digital.
Excellent video. And to those who think this is about people not buying books anymore, I suspect the real frustration with the Kindle is its overall lack of beauty and design aesthetics, not that people won’t be able to see the pretty covers anymore. The Kindle isn’t a lovely object. It’s not pleasurable to hold or to look at. It’s a disappointment. Plus, you can’t see the pretty covers.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:31 am
lol, yeah. I also got the reference immediately. I guess most people are clueless
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 am
cute vid.
give the kindle color capability and perhaps book covers can survive.
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 am
Awesome! Long live print!!!
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Awesome! My wife and I were just talking about this wretched machine the other day. What is our obsession with gadgets? Ugh!
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 am
Never judge a book by its cover. It’s about content, after all.
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
Great Job! Loved it at the AIGA conference!
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
Too funny. Cheers!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:00 am
I agree with Clay10mograf. The video is fun, but hoping it isn’t our true reaction as designers. If so, we might as well join up with the Luddites in a futile cause : )
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
your my hero chaz!
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
welcome to the job centre guys
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Great work chaz. It was a pleasure being able to present in the 20/20 with you
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 am
I saw this live at the conference and it had me laughing my ass off. Nice work
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I HATE the “kindle”. Much like records (and cds), the real fans of music know better and will keep packaging/hard copies alive!
Kindle = void of personality. . . bland. . . a story killer!
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I understand what Clay is saying. However, I think this video is just for fun. It’s filed under “comedy”.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
We have the exact same philosophy. Let’s talk design sometime lol.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
lighten up Clay.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Did no one get the ‘Office Space’ relation. Watch the movie, then you’ll get it.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
This video is an expression of fear. It’s a group of skilled and talented horse trainers smashing an early automobile in the town square.
Like crappy early cars, the Kindle is not the future of books. The Kindle will fail, for a variety of reasons. But make no mistake, it will not be the last of its kind. E-books will eventually succeed once publishers and readers are ready for it.
And designers: There’s nothing to fear. Design will always be central to books, whether they’re paper or digital.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
You should clean up afterwards!
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
0:41 actually made me make a sound of guttural delight. props!
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
a modern exercise of impermanence. . . yeay!
December 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
No worries friends, books and print isn’t going anywhere! The kindle has a thousand+ years of refinement before we need to worry about a take over.
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
The point is it was fun.
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Hooray for print, go Charles. Plus, if you took a bat to a book, it wouldn’t nearly be this exciting or shrapnel-filled.
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Excellent video. And to those who think this is about people not buying books anymore, I suspect the real frustration with the Kindle is its overall lack of beauty and design aesthetics, not that people won’t be able to see the pretty covers anymore. The Kindle isn’t a lovely object. It’s not pleasurable to hold or to look at. It’s a disappointment. Plus, you can’t see the pretty covers.