Hidden in Plain Sight

February 25, 2013
Chipchase, executive creative director of global insights at Frog Design (now known as frog), has been described as a global design anthropologist. In his first book, written with journalist Steinhardt, he uses this anthropologist's curiosity and research experience to examine both the mundane and extraordinary: "scratching beneath the surface to find reality in bits and pieces⦠to see the world in a richer, more textured way." And Chipchase does indeed scratch the surface on a wide variety of captivating yet random topics, examining such disparate subjects as mobile phones, fast food, pornography, hybrid corn adoption, and the Amish. While he recounts many fascinating anecdotes about consumer adoption of products and services, status, buying behaviors, and technologies, the disjointed organization is distracting and may leave the reader wondering what point the author is trying to make. In the conclusion, Chipchase admits he did not focus on making a point, but rather aimed "to offer new perspectives that can help you bring the world into focus," and to motivate us to ask smarter questions. For nonlinear thinkers or those who embrace the ambiguity inherent in design research, Chipchase's work will provide a lively, thought-provoking, and often humorous read. Agent: James Levine, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency.