An illustrator’s illustrated memoir in a convenient format (super pocketable yet with very comfortable type size), which is enjoyable and relatable even if you’re not in his exact line of work.
My only objection is with a footnote in chapter 4:
If you’re a designer this might be a chapter for you to skip—with some exceptions, your job is to be a mystical “chameleon” channelling your client’s identity in a way that displays it best and has little regard for your own identity. If you’re an illustrator or photographer working for a large organization, again there may be more emphasis on matching corporate style guidelines than expressing your own. But out in the world of independent creatives, a style-less illustrator’s or photographer’s work is replaceable, cheapened by its ubiquity.
Identity and style aren’t the same thing (although I think they’re linked), and while a designer’s job is to represent the client’s or employer’s identity, their own personal style is what sets them apart from other designers. And because design isn’t just about how it looks (it’s uncanny how often I have to go back to that one), a designer’s style can manifest in different ways, depending on the medium. But it’s the smell of “design work is inherently less creative than ‘art’” that’s ticking me off. Also, “mystical”? 🤔