OPEN LETTER TO DESIGN STUDENTS EVERYWHERE

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JESSICA HELFAND
Jessica is a an author, columnist, and lecturer on graphic design. She is the partner of William Drenttel of Winterhouse Studios, Winterhouse Editions and Winterhouse Institute located in Falls Village, Connecticut. She is a critic in graphic design at Yale University, where she earned her M.F.A. in graphic design and her B.A. in graphic design and architectural theory. She is a 1978 graduate of The George School in Newtown, PA. Winterhouse was formerly known as Jessica Helfand | William Drenttel. Its website describes that studio as "a design consultancy in New York that concentrates on editorial design and the development of new models for old and new media." Helfand is also a "founding writer" of the Design Observer weblog. with Michael Bierut, Wiliam Drenttel and Rick Poynor.

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OPEN LETTER TO DESIGN STUDENTS EVERYWHERE

This article addresses challenges to design students across the world focusing on thesis writing. There are tips and truths on how to best conduct yourself in the professional world. Less is more is how we should conceptually think day-to-day. And it also explains that we will never stop learning. College is where we learn how to learn.

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MAIN POINTS

"Get your work online."

"...go that extra mile and send a thank-you note."

"Do not wait to get back to your desk to write things down or, better yet, to draw them."

"...less, in fact, is more."

"There's plenty of time to get complicated later."

"With structure comes freedom."

"...never stop thinking. Never stop asking questions. Never, never stop reading, looking, imagining what else can be done."