Dan Santat adding his mark to Beekle at the Alumni Center

Caldecott winner, #1 New York Times best-selling author, creator of Beekle, and ArtCenter alum, Dan Santat (BFA 01 Illustration) stopped by the Alumni Center recently to sign a copy of Beekle and mingle with Alumni Relations staff.

From the @artcenter_alumnetwork Instagram post about his visit:

We asked [Dan] what advice he would give illustration students today.

1. Take a basic typography or lettering class.
   He’s been flexing those lettering skills in all his books; gives him an edge over the competition.
2. Take one basic advertising class.
   Roland Young (BFA 61 ADVT) gave him some of the best advice—“He would ask us, ‘Why are you trying to be flashy? If you’re a style, then people will hire you for your style. What you really want to be is formless. You want to be known as a person that has great ideas.’”
3. Take a basic graphic design class.
4. Take the history of illustration class—how can you not know your history?
5. Take a Design 1 class with Bruce Claypool (BFA 76 Graphic Design) @claypoolbruce.

Dan Santat poses with Beekle in the Alumni Center

Follow the @artcenter_alumnetwork Instagram account to find out more about alumni gatherings and events