breakfast is definitely my happy place. (so is this new bright just say native sweater i got last weekend)

photos by bonnie tsang

KATIE’S ANSWER:
if you’re trying to make graphic design your career then i highly recommend the college route. i received my BFA in graphic design from the maryland institute college of art. my professors and classmates taught me a lot that i wouldn’t have learned if i was on my own. participating in class critiques taught me how to speak about art and design. it taught me how to articulate my creative thoughts and concepts, something that i do everyday at my job. working on group projects taught me how to interact and work with other designers which prepared me to work on a team. i was exposed to all different channels of graphic design which helped me figure out which direction i wanted to take my career. another plus of going to school is getting an internship experience. most companies can’t bring you on as an intern unless it’s for college credit. my internship played a big roll in my life and career and i wouldn’t be where i am today if i hadn’t gone to school.

if you just want to learn graphic design to make art or get creative on your blog i think self taught is perfect. you could attend bri’s blogshops or take a class at studio like 3rd Ward. there are also a ton of graphic design books out there that explain the basics of typography and design.

BRI’S ANSWER:
for me, school was very very beneficial. i was lucky enough to know from a very young age that i wanted to be a graphic designer, so when college came up, I had zero hesitation. i attended Arizona State University for two years (my dad lived there, so I wanted to be close to him and try something new) The program I was in was very technical (we barely even got on the computer for those first 2 years) The precision, attention to detail, work ethic, classic training that I learned there is something I will always value and believe helped me tremendously.
then i transferred to FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and continued on my graphic design journey for another two years there. my teachers taught me how to talk like a designer, present like a designer and think creatively. It was wildly different from ASU, but I loved it in it’s own way. what can I say, i LOVE SCHOOL. i love deadlines, i like a good challenge and learning new things is the best feeling. I ended up getting my AA in graphic design and had my first salary job the month I graduated. I am not sure I could have been in that position without school.
a lot of people say you have to have a certain degree to succeed. nope, don’t agree. I think it’s a personal choice of when YOU feel ready. after those 4 years I was more than ready to take on the world. i couldn’t WAIT to get out there and get some real world experience. and yes, like katie said, college gets you very valuable internships (i had 3)!

(illustration by katie evans. see last week’s advice post right here. and remember, we would LOVE to hear the questions you guys are wanting answers to!)

photo by max wanger

quick rundown: 3 day workshop for photographers. learn how to shoot, create, and edit! even if you are a beginner, this will be a blast for you. here are some past student’s posts about the workshop here and here!

but hurry folks, the class is half filled with anxious learners already! all the details & how to sign up are right here! hope to see you there!

so here’s the part where you guys can go shop wild. we are giving you 500 bucks towards your collection that you put together.

here’s how to win!

1. head on over to beso and create your own little mood board collection.
(i usually just browse the site and mark all my “favorite” items with the little heart and then easily just add those into my collection)

2. leave a comment below showing me a link to your collection!

i know it takes a couple minutes, but hey, I made mine while I was watching a marathon of The Real Housewives on the couch one night (terrible me). one random winner will be chosen on Tuesday, Feb 28th at 10am PST. make sure you leave a way I can reach ya if you win!

best of luck, friends!

i know it looks a little like my shirt was invaded by moths. or that i’m tryin to be a real bad ass with my ripped shirt. but the truth is, i just really really like this shirt. and have worn it to death. i’ve had it for a lot of years and it has the perfect thinness, making it my most comfortable tee. is thinness a word? not sure.

layered with a sequin scarf, it’s magic. (remember when i wore it here too?)

do you guys ever just drive around to relieve your stress? i used to do that a lot more, and should probably take some time more often to do it. my boyfriend is always saying “let’s just drive into the desert!” or just wanting to drive somewhere random. i should probably be more open minded about it.

ps, i can’t believe this is my 40TH STYLE POST! see all of em here.

i’ve been thinking a lot about what makes styling good exactly? to me, it’s just a feeling of balance, space, imperfect decisions, randomness, emptiness, color importance. for instance, take these photos below. what do you like about them exactly? what keeps your attention?

having these funny bright spoons + forks makes doing the dishes not so bad. plus, i get a kick out of spotting him eating his cereal with a strawberry spoon.

photo via urban outfitters