Letter Society

Project 34: It’s Been Real

|  A reflection of the last three years

Having been a part of the Letter Society since post one, almost three years ago, it’s very bittersweet to close the door on the blog in it’s current form. At the beginning, I was in my final year of college and not feeling challenged properly by the curriculum. Erik approached me and asked if I’d be interested in starting a design equivalent of our friend’s illustration focused blog, Square Carousel, and I was immediately in! 

In the beginning we had a few projects (Currency Redesign & Google Redesign) that got us some press and it was awesome! Those weeks were full of everyone sharing the latest sites that were writing about our posts, friends texting us saying they saw us on the homepage of Tumblr, and having it sink in that the average designer wasn’t undertaking a commitment like we were outside of our 9-5 or as Erik often refers to it, during the 5-9. That last point is what really sunk in over the months of doing this, we’d volunteered to stick with deadlines and get it done on top of our already busy schedules for the sake of bettering ourselves. 

On the Letter Society projects, I was able to explore concepts and ideas I’d had during school or that a client didn’t go for. Looking back, a lot of my projects didn’t turn out how I’d hoped but that’s part of it. The blog helped me learn that not all of my ideas will pan out, that I have to accept it, learn from it, and move onto the next method/medium/idea. This exploration is all over the work I’ve done. I tried to do illustrations that’ve not succeeded but I had a lot of fun making. UX experiments that I wasn’t skilled enough to pull off yet. It was nice to fail and is something I don’t have the luxury of as much anymore. Doing posts almost nonstop in my free time for three years became a constant for me and was something I could always plan around and know was coming. Other than growing as a creative, it provided a network of peers and exposure to friends of friends in the industry. We could serve as springboards for ideas, enablers for dreams we have, and a council for advice on how to handle situations at work that we difficult. 

This isn’t the end of the Letter Society, but a chance for us to figure out how we can help each other continue to grow. That being said, it’s been real!

I’d like to start off with an appropriate song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foyAOoVagWw

Ok, now let’s get serious.

Letter Society really jumpstarted my career. It wasn’t a job or my big move to Chicago. The moment I joined Letter Society and started pushing my design skills is when I felt like I finally “made it.” I got a new job, I started teaching UX and then I got another new job. My coworkers respected me and were impressed with my ability to work and then continue to work outside of the confines of the office. If you would’ve told me 3 years ago, I would have work featured in Wired not just once but twice, I would have spit out the food I was most likely eating and laughed in your face.

Now, actually doing the things was tough. The more and more busy I got at the office, the less time I had to actually focus on LSo, which really bummed me out. And it still bums me out that we’re closing shop. Because now I actually have the time to do cool shit outside of work! Ugh

However, I’m immensely grateful for the last 3 years. I’m amazed at how much we’ve grown in our professions and in our personal lives. Letter Society taught me to not be so self conscious or doubtful of my work. I think the Apple Watch, Badge Hunting and City Flags were my favorite projects, which goes to show you the breadth and depth of our work. I know that I have lifelong friends out of this group and I can’t wait to see where we end up in the next 3 years. 

Thank you LSo and thanks to all our followers who’ve kept up with us. 

Well, here we are- after three years and many projects later- the Letter Society is ready to hang up their caps and call it a day. In fall of 2013- I was visiting with college friend and then-member of the Letter Society Casey Crisenbery and he was telling all about this cool group that Erik was starting. I knew I need in, for my sanity, and joined for the next project- the drop cap. The rest is history as they say and we all went on to collaborate and create some of our favorite work.

Over the past three years we have worked on some really fun projects from Project 3: Currency Redesign to project 29: Style Switch Up, there was so much that I learned from my fellow members including how to balance my time for LS with work and social life and freelance as well as technical skills like how to make a GIF, introduction to After Effects and film editing.

Working with this amazing group of people has pushed me further then I could take myself and for that I am grateful. It was an oasis in a desert of repetitive agency days; it got me through work problems and helped me see the bigger picture. I continue to see the impact on my creative process and I know that this experience was invaluable for my career.

To our followers- thank you for allowing us to share this with you. I will never forget seeing the numbers climb after our Google Redesign project.

To my fellow letter society members- thank you so much for everything you have taught me. This group has given us more then just a name and reputation- it has given us collaborators and friends. After lots of new jobs, job offers, and interviews, I think we can say that we are all going to do all right J Good luck to everyone and I hope to work with you again soon!

The Letter Society, as it’s been for the past three years, has been an invaluable tool and lesson for me as a designer and as a friend. It has helped me to execute work with more skill and thought, to evolve my career, and to have fun with my friends along the way.

The Letter Society has allowed some of us to move to new places, accept new jobs, and even put some of us on the front pages of awesome design publications.

If you would have told me three years ago that I would be living and working in Los Angeles, I would’ve laughed out loud. But, through a series of Letter Society-inspired events, here I am. And with that in mind, it’s going to be tough to predict where I am going to be in another three years… All I can say is that I want to continue to make beautiful, thoughtful, and communicative work.

I would have to say that my favorite project has been Project 15: Forever Stamp Series. That single project showcased the breadth of our prompts as well as highlighted our diverse skill sets and styles. Another project that I enjoyed working on was Project 25: City Flags. That project was enlightening in the sense that it made me realize just how much I enjoy working on civic-centric design projects.

Hopefully, LSo. will still be around for years to come, in some capacity. Whether that means we post periodical thoughts, one-off projects, or personal updates.

It’s been quite the ride, and I am thankful that I was able to experience it with everyone.

Project 34 will be our final project. After almost 3 years of collaborating and creating alongside truly talented designers, we regret to announce that the Letter Society will be going on an indefinite break while we figure out what’s next. Our final project will be to reflect on what being a member of the blog has meant to each of us and how it has impacted our growth as creatives.

The posts will be added throughout the day on July 31st. Enjoy.

About Established in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz, the team later moved to Utah in 1979. The Utah Jazz are a professional basketball team playing in the NBA.

Design by In-house by Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment creative services

Related Links http://www.nba.com/jazz/newlook http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15519329/uni-watch-breaks-new-look-utah-jazz-bringing-next-season

Notes/Opinions The old Jazz brand had some emotional equity, in my mind at least, because it was one of the few sports brands from my childhood that I remember the logo resembling a finished masterpiece in a coloring book (along with the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Coyotes, and Toronto Raptors) rather than a typical logomark.

The detailed mountainscape in the background paired with the gradient-heavy, swooshing letterforms in the foreground could be considered a piece of fine art in its own right.

And while the logo does make me smile, it deserves to be framed and hung on a wall rather than be on the front a basketball jersey. I think the brand update is refreshing and welcomed. It looks as though much of the original brand from the 1970’s was able to be resurrected and updated for the 2010’s. Seeing the new brand marks in motion showcases how a basketball team’s logo can be relevant in today’s brand climate, where a brand has to be both dynamic and responsive - almost as if it’s breathing.

Although, an issue I have with this brand update is the secondary logomark. With the amount of energy and effort the designers put into the all of the other Jazz logomarks and design elements, this particular piece seems very iterative, repetitive (see image below), and static. I wish the designers would have utilized their new custom typeface in a more exciting and dynamic way.

One other criticism I have of the rebrand (and I know that I’m getting picky here) is that the refined colors aren’t vibrant enough - they don’t pack that ‘punch’. I love sporting a teams colors with pride and being able to recognize other fans too! The chosen blue is so dark and dull that it would be hard to wear those colors at a bar and spot my fellow Jazz supporters. In short, I don’t think the colors are being pushed to their fullest potential.

Overall, I would say the rebrand was successful because the Utah Jazz team and fans have a strong new logo to rally behind and proudly support. The fact that the logo was made with the digital environment in-mind gives this rebrand that much more energy and charisma.

Hope you enjoyed the read!

Project 33: Redesign Review- Planters Nuts

The past year seems to be the age of the “simplified” redesign. With more and more brands like Netflix and Google evolving their marks and brands to a cleaner look, it’s not surprising that other companies are jumping in too; with varying degrees of success.  Some have given their redesign a lot of thought to make sure they kept their consumer-retaining equities while others have stripped their brand of the personality that makes it ownable.

 One such brand I have noticed a change in recently is Planters Nuts. As I reached for my favorite flight snack on my way to California not long ago, I noticed a big change on their shelf. Planters Nuts was founded in 1906 and in 1916, the first rendition of Mr. Peanut came to life after a schoolboy won a contest for designing the brand mark. Fast forward a century and we still see our favorite Peanut on commercials and printed media along with their logotype and recognizable brand colors; blue and yellow. Recently, Planters launched their new and improved logo mark and updated packaging.

 The first major change from past branding is the separation of Mr. Peanut from the logotype itself. In the previous rendition, he was tied with the type and cut off at the legs creating a weird line and a dismembered personality on pack. Not only have they pulled him out to play better to their heritage but this also allows them to use the logo and space better. Mr. Peanut himself also got a little jazzed up; the illustration no longer uses black to create shapes; instead opting for tone on tone dimension and cleaner lines.

 Now that the type is no longer tied to Mr. Peanut, they have done away with their asymmetric curved logotype; ditching the ligatures, holding-shape and gradient in favor of a trendy, clean sans serif that is reminiscent of Planters logos past. Though less dynamic than the former logo, there is a nice balance. To be honest, it reminds me a lot of Netflix.  The video streaming company seems to have started a trend of subtle but meaningful branding changes; while the planters interpretation is nice and could lend itself naturally to a relevant packaging update, overall it’s quite plain.

 When it comes to their adaptation of the new branding to the package design, it could be pushed further. They have kept their strategy in place but have removed any type of flourish or gradient. Flat color floods the packs, using flat bands of color to differentiate flavor and nut variety. The hierarchy is straightforward and effective yet blocky with the tangents created by the logo and the color bands.

 Overall, I feel like this rebrand is unfinished; a good stepping stone to some of the nicer elements that we see on their 100th anniversary bottle or the dessert mixes. The update to the logo is nice. Bringing in symmetry while keeping the curve that people have come to associate with the brand was a nice design decision. However, I do crave the motion from the old mark and I feel that they have not taken advantage of the symmetry on pack as well as they could have. They have cleaned up the logo to become more relevant but in the process became more generic. They are using new assets in old ways on pack causing the redesign to fall flat and feel like a cheaper product overall. With less character in the packaging, this feels more like a value brand instead of the brand of nuts I have grown up with. Part of me wishes that they had taken the great tone of voice they have created for Mr. Peanut throughout the last decade and really owned it. They have all the pieces but could spend a little more time to crack this nut.

Jake Nolan and I decided to team up for this project. We grew up together in a small town in Indiana. I can speak for myself and say that I always romanticized the thought of leaving and escaping the corn fields. But now that I’m a bit older and have  lived in a couple of different states, I have a strong pride in where I am from.

For this (re)design, we decided to focus on redesigning the experience of visitindiana.com and visitindy.com. Although we have interaction gifs, we truly wanted to focus on creating a novel user-experience that is both fun and compelling.

Problems

The problems we have with the current order of things on visitindiana.com and visitindy.com are:

The pages don’t have a narrative

The pages overwhelm with content

The packaging of the two sites are totally different - visitindiana.com is clearly focused on an older audience that a wholesome, relaxing long-weekend; while visitindy.com has an energetic color scheme and highlights breweries and racing which sounds good to someone my age (in their mid-20s).

And as a final note, the experience overall just isn’t that compelling or special for either site.

Solutions

As part of the solution for this (re)design, we wanted to create a novel experience around how to discover a city/state/etc. and what it has to offer. When you first land on visitindiana.com, you are confronted with this prompt, “[Sometime] I’m looking forward to [activity]. This statement prompts the user to pick time frame and activity type to give them the my personalized result possible. In the case of the example, the user wanted to spend their weekend hiking. Because of this input, the background image, weather forecast, and CTA all reference Ft. Harrison State Park - the perfect place for some weekend hiking.

But say that the user isn’t quite sure what they want to do or when they want to do it, then if they scroll below the main statement, there’s a section asking, “At a Loss?”. This section has several scrubbers that allow the user to push and pull between different extremes to define their ideal trip. The user’s decisive placement of the scrubbers dictate the result, which will display the most compatible answer and then showcase a few related options.

State Page

Main Prompt - Selection State

Once the user has started to focus their search a bit, they might visit a city-specific page, such as visitindy.com. Once on the city page, the user is no longer confronted with a prompt because knowing the place they want explore is half of the battle. Now, they are given a carousel of events happening around town. Or, similar to the statewide page, the user can take advantage of the scrubbers below the main section to refine their search for the perfect activity happing in that city.

City Page

Expanded Primary Navigation

Style Guide

Jake and I thought it was silly for a state and its cities/regions to have disjointed tourism portals, branding, and altogether experiences. When you think of a vacation destination, Indiana is probably the last state on your mind, so it needs all the help it can get.

We decided to use a single style guide throughout all the state/city pages. The color scheme comes from the Indiana state flag and the type choices were meant to be interpreted as both traditional, but also on-trend to appeal to audiences both young and old. The charismatic  iconography (which we did not design, but graciously borrowed from The Noun Project) can also be seen in two lights - simple, clear and fun, light-hearted. Between the color, type, and icons, these design elements reinforce the idea of form meeting function and this site being extremely functional, but also really fun to look at and interact with.

We hope y’all enjoyed reading and thanks for your time!

Playstation 4 UI Redesign + VR concept

Project 32: (Re)design an experience

Hey guys! For this project I went and took an experience that I use daily, my PS4. I did a redesign for the main home screen, and played around with concepts for VR with my friend Caro.

The initial issue I had with the PS4′s current interface was that it seemed very restricting, especially considering the controller that was being used. The Dual Shock 4 has the ability to go and use analog control, along with a touch screen and the current UI, XMB only allows for four way movement.

I use the building blocks of how existing tiles are formed in both the Playstation Store and existing interface, and made a system that allowed for an asymmetrical grid. The thought being that this new grid was smart, and would evolve over time towards what apps and games you used the most. From a marketing standpoint, this could also potentially used to push new releases and have certain content take center stage.

From here, I realized the potential of this bigger grid for VR navigation, and with Caro we formed a basic flow of how these menus would be handled in VR. It’s still very high level, but the basic concept we had was that instead of having content hidden behind menus, you could use your full range of head movement and vision to delegate content to secondary areas.  

In our example walkthrough, you can see that the user has made it so that if you move your head to the left, you will find your profile. To the right is your social grid and the top is your settings. In terms of experimentation and UX, we feel like over time this interaction could become valuable as more content gets hidden under hamburger menus and drop downs.

When given the prompt to redesign an experience, I wanted the experience to be something that I use on the daily regardless of it’s aesthetic, not because of it. I more-or-less immediately thought... 

I, as well as hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe use Reddit daily, but it has to be one of the most unattractive websites out there. That said, it’s incredibly well done in that it communicates information quickly and effectively to thousands of people a second. Then entire system is incredibly simple and that is why it works so well. In my redesign, I wanted to give Reddit a little bit of a facelift. Keep it clean and simple, like it is now, but add in some fun and unique functionality and aesthetics.

Reddit Front Page: 

All default subreddits have both an icon and a corresponding color. These elements can be used for anything from the default image for image-less posts to the header image for the respective subreddit as well as the subreddit’s primary color source. There are close to 50 default subreddits, this is just a sample.

Access your account information or contributing actions from a simple dropdown menu.

Sliding wayfinding in the primary menu system. 

Access all of the default subreddits as well as your subscribed subreddits and any subreddits you may be a moderator of in this hidden menu.

Simple up/downvote mechanism. 

Reddit Comment Thread:

Instead of the usual sidebar of rules and information cluttering up the space, I chose to “hide” the information using a sliding sidebar. The sidebar contains information about the post, subreddit, and rules.

Thank for watching! 

Project 32: (Re)design an Experience

For this project, I took it upon myself to redesign the core interface and interaction experience of the Sling TV mobile app. As a fan of cord-cutting, I love the product offering of Sling but the moment I got past their website and into their mobile and desktop apps, I saw immediately that their app design could use some love.

Their current design is trying to do too much at once and consequently fails to do some core tasks well. First, I addressed the oversized UI elements. For a service that is all about fullscreen TV media, their chrome covers a large percentage of the screen. 

Next I addressed their treatment of iconography and text. The size of both of these elements were extremely oversized, wasting more space and causing more confusion. Additionally, a quirk of Sling is that some channels allow you to pause/rewind and others do not. The current disabled icon treatment has them at half opacity, but that’s inconsistent with all the still functional icons in the header which share the same visual treatment. Which can you tap, which can’t you tap? This creates inconsistencies and confusion that lead to user frustration.

Finally, the main interaction that was most challenging for me as a user was the browsing experience of the Guide. On my iPhone 6, the elements were so large that I couldn’t see both the on demand “watch now” section along with the scheduled shows and scrolling was a challenge. I didn’t rework this screen completely, but I did simplify the expansion transition and make the hierarchy of information much more clear.

Lastly, I broke the Search function which permeated every header in this app into it’s own sidebar navigation destination. I’d be curious to see the data Sling has about the search usage. Is it really relevant to every page, or would a dedicated and easily accessible Search page be more useful? I took a guess and said no in an effort to keep primary actions on all other screens more obvious.

Hope y’all like it!

Project 31: Advice to my art-school self

This post has been published both here and at the new Characters by Letter Society page on Medium and now onto the advice.

Being two years out of school, it’s only appropriate to think of ways I could share my sage wisdom with a younger me. Throughout college, life was changing quickly, drastically, and it seemed like I was doing everything I could to stay on top of it. Given the chance to go back and do it again, dominating it doesn’t describe how well I think I’d do. Listen up college Jake, these points have applications to both your personal life and your success as a budding designer because they’re intertwined at every turn.

Get off your ass. One. It’s easy to put things off with Netflix calling your name but try a little less time in front of the TV and more in the studio. Some say that great work comes out of desperation and while that can be true, it doesn’t apply when in the early years of honing your skills. Great work comes out of trial and error which simply cannot happen when starting a project two nights before the due date. Accept the failure along the way because it’s not the worst thing by a long shot. (Spilt wine is way worse.)

Two. Actually get off your ass. Ride the bike more. Go for a run. Be proud of yourself for going to the gym instead intimidated. A lot of creative blocks have been overcome around mile 3.

Stay focused on who you are. One. We’ve fought hard to get where we are. The first few years of college were not easy but you staked your claim so never lose sight of it. It formed the foundation of a person I couldn’t be happier to identify as. I’d describe us in three ways: curious, loyal, and refusing to accept things easily. Ask questions and if you ever worry about being a nuisance, just think “stay informed to stay on top.” It holds true and shows no sign of failing.

Two. While it’s nice to emulate another designer’s styles and be envious of the people on Behance, embrace your own quirks. Make things that you like because everything we do has a level of taste involved. The taste will never go away so work towards creating things that live up to expectations you set

Explore One. Explore the world. Explore your likes and dislikes. Immerse yourself in uncomfortable situations so you have no choice but to grow. Will it be scary, yes. Will you end up still disliking things, more than you’d think. Are surprises in store, without a doubt. Remember skydiving? Case in point.

Two. Use the Letter Society as one of your greatest resources. In retrospect, it has led to exponential growth even if the project quality doesn’t show it all the time. At times it might seem like you’re competing with the other members but we aren’t. Everyone wants to grow so let them help you explore what it means to be a creative person and in turn, you’ll help them explore their limits as well.

The future is bright and I’d hate to spoil what it has in store. Know that it’s exciting and that everything will change when you least expect it.

Smooches, Jake

SCAD was the best experience of my life. And I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true. I made friends with a really solid group of talented, driven, funny, probably insane, individuals that I miss everyday. I lived with 4 other girls. I lived alone. I worked my ass off and partied even harder. I had a blast. However, I do wish I had done a couple things differently...

Hey Fran,

Hm, what can I say to you, young, more in-shape and tan, Fran.  Here a couple of thoughts

Bike and walk more. You’ll appreciate it in the end, not to mention spend less on parking tickets. Enjoy the squares and heat. Welcome those pesky mosquito bites during fall quarter.  Breathe. 

Pay attention to the details in your work. Details will make your work sing. 

Keep working hard. 

Stay in more. Hangfire will still be there the next day. 

Go camping. Visit Charleston (more than once.) Check out Hilton Head. 

Be easier on yourself. You are talented and smart and, although 26-year-old Fran finds that hard to admit, it’s true.  Love yourself more in Lacoste. It was a hard, awkward time but you’ll regret not letting go and exploring more. 

Draw more. 

Don’t compare yourself to others. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

It will take a while for you to land on your feet after graduation, but fear not. You’ll eventually find a job that will change your life. 

Don’t ever drink Four Loco again. Same goes for Joose. 

Take another web design class. You won’t regret it. 

Stop listening to Passion Pit. 

Eat. Pray. SCAD.

Project 31 - Advice to your art school self

Oh hey! So for this project, my writing prompt was based on doing a revamp of my personal branding. My current logo was my final class in art school, and I thought that’d be a great jumping off point to see what I’ve learned since college and what I wish I knew in the past.

Art School Nathan,

Hey. Hope time based typography is treating you well. Here are a few things I know now that you would be smart to learn too.

Stress Less

This is an obvious one— plan your time so that you aren’t waiting till the last minute, stressed about getting something done. Give yourself time to be inspired, don’t force yourself to do everything in one night before the assignment is due! You might even do fine enough on the assignment when all is said and done, but is the work as meaningful and as challenging as it could be? Was the result worth the stress at the finish line? I doubt it. Next time, make it worth it.

Freelance Less

Firstly, freelance work is great. It’s fantastic if you can get a few side jobs here and there while you’re in school to help fund you extracurricular activities.  It is! However, if it’s not a necessity for your bills or day-to-day expenses, don’t do it! Spend your time on your assignments. You have your whole life to work for someone else, but these four years are one of very few times in your life when you get to work for you, and only for you. Yes, someone else (a teacher) tells you what you need to do, but you are the designer, editor, and creative director of your work. It’s all up to you! With that better time management, devote yourself to producing work that exemplifies what you want to be and what you want to do when you graduate.

Create More

Make something new every day. Sketch something new every day. Growing your fundamental skills is something that can only happen if you invest the time. Figure out how to spend 10k hours perfecting your craft and then if you manage that, pick a new craft and begin again. Try as much as you can so you know better what you want to do.

Learn More

Learning software is simple. Quickly figure out that you’ll always be redoing this every year with each cool new piece of software. Don’t chase mastery of a tool at the expense of mastery of design. Learning how to design things well is a lifetime commitment and no matter the tool, the lessons you’re being given the opportunity to learn right now are timeless. Pay attention! Find someone to look up to who can mentor you and help you grow in ways you didn’t even know you needed. That’s the kind of learning that will last. That’s the kind of learning you need to do.

Overall, you’re doing ok, but don’t settle for ok. Keep pushing for something greater.

P.S. Even with the recession of 2008 fresh on your mind… the economy is going to bounce back and actually do pretty well in almost all sectors (especially tech) until Q4 of 2015 when we will experience a moderate market correction that lasts into Q1 of 2016… invest accordingly.

Project 31: Advice to Your Art School Self

College was a fun, awkward, tiring, inspiring, and enlightening few years. I had my first date, I figured out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and I went on a European road trip. While I feel that I embraced my time in school, hindsight has allowed me to point out a couple of themes that would’ve been helpful to be aware of on my the quest to make something of myself.

Below is advice to my art school self.

Okay, let’s break this advice down into two categories: learning and living. I think that the social side of the college experience is just as impactful and influential as the learning as should be treated as such.

Let’s start with the basics: 1. Work your butt off. It doesn’t sound fun, but I promise it makes a huge difference. Eat, breathe, and dream about design. 2. Take every opportunity to learn something new - whether it be a technique, program, or major altogether. 3. Become friendly with your professors. They are a HUGE resource and are there to watch you blossom into a thoughtful designer. 4. Learn to like coffee - it will become your best friend.

Now for some deeper shit: 5. Don’t spend every waking moment worrying about your future. You know your a hard worker with lofty aspirations - know that that’s enough. 6. (Related to #4) You WILL get a design job. If you want something bad enough, you won’t stop until you have achieved it. So, just calm down and focus on making great work. 7. This one is hard, but don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Design easily becomes subject when there’s room full people staring each other’s work. Just make sure that each project is better than your last and you’ll be fine.

1. Coming from a small town, don’t be afraid to just be yourself. Everyone is going to try really hard to look/sound/smell like a budding, eclectic artist. While this can be annoying from time to time, it will also encourage you to live honestly and truthfully. 2. You don’t have to go to every party or ‘night out’ that your invited to. Stay in, watch some movies, and have some quality time with the roomies. 3. Know that the friends you make in college are going to be some of the most influential people in your life, so make sure to appreciate them and stay in touch. 4. Be promiscuous. Learn what you like, what you don’t like, have great relationships and horrible breakups. Use this time explore yourself and others.

And one last piece of advice, arguably the most important piece. I remember sitting in my first class in my first quarter in my first year of college and the professor asked us all to describe, in one word, the most important characteristic of being a creative-type. I wrote in my sketchbook in big bold letters ’humility’. Stay humble. A humble designer will never be satisfied, never be content, and will always be pushing themselves to do better.