So remember when I told you guys that I was working on a new project for school called Escapist Magazine? Well it morphed from a self-directed project about escaping your ordinary life, to a small lookbook/magazine—a collaboration with my friend Jill, who is a major in IDC at Parsons, who makes clothes, and went to high school with me. The “mini collection” was inspired by our experiences growing up by the beach, astronomy, nature, and nostalgia. We also changed the name to Youth + Constellations because it encapsulated everything the collection stood for for us. It was my first foray into making clothes, and Jill’s first foray into a cross-department collaboration. My favorite part of the project was finding the parts to put together the “Projected” photos—my parents old slide projector and a box of slides that were taken in our town over 25 years ago, before my parents moved here.

Click here to download the PDF version.

1: Saltwater Sandal / 2: Unearthen Necklaces / 3: Wiffleball! / 4: Denim Cut-offs / 5: BDG Burst Print Pocket Tee / 6: Studded Ballet Slippers / 7: OPI in I’m India Mood for Love / 8: Mac Lipstick in Please Me / 9: Sophomore Cut-out Dress / 10: Flower One-Shoulder Top

Andre Andreev and Dan Covert from Dress Code recently published a book called Never Sleep: Graduating to Graphic Design, in which they share their journey from high school, design school, graduation, MTV, and starting their own studio. The premise is that, “There is a major disconnect between the life of a design student and the transition to being a design professional.” Not only does the book recount their story and include samples of their work from beginning to present day, but it also includes stories, interviews, and insights from important people along their journey. There is also Q+A from design students to Andre and Dan (some of which can be found on the book’s website) that I found extremely informing and helpful, such as how best to photograph your work and what it’s like finding a job out of post-graduation.

I enjoyed the whole book and was captivated and inspired by their story, but I loved reading about their experiences one year away from their graduation from school (where I am now) to about one year post graduation; which I think is possibly the biggest gray area—the most unplanned and scary time in a designer’s early career. It’s the little details, like being truly honest about how they felt at certain times and their frank feelings about their projects, clients, and experiences that really make this a great read. Not to mention they weren’t afraid to admit that their biggest motto was “fake it until you make it.” And made it, they have.

If you are a design student I urge you to buy this book. It is easily one of the most memorable and relateable reads in my design book collection. It has certainly re-inspired me to design, and be passionate about my future and all the possibilities that lie ahead of me at this time in my design education and career.