Sign In

Jessica Helfand

Artist + Writer

Jessica Helfand is an accomplished artist, designer, writer, and educator. She is a partner and Creative Director at Design Observer, a platform she co-founded in 2003.1 Helfand received her BA in Graphic Design and Architectural Theory and her MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University.12

Throughout her career, Helfand has:

  • Taught at Yale University for over two decades2
  • Co-founded Design Observer, which has hosted conferences, launched a publishing imprint, and introduced award-winning podcasts1
  • Authored numerous books on design and visual culture, including "Screen: Essays on Graphic Design, New Media and Visual Culture" and "Face: A Visual Odyssey"23
  • Been named the first Henry Wolf Resident in design at the American Academy in Rome in 20102
  • Received the AIGA Medal in 20132

Helfand is known for her multidisciplinary approach, combining her expertise in design with writing and education. She has held visiting professorships at various institutions and is a founding tutor in a summer editorial design course in Porto, Portugal.2 Her work often explores the intersection of design, visual culture, and social history.34

Highlights

Apr 25 · linkedin

Melissa Harris spent ten years interviewing, thinking, and to quote an overused, contemporary expression (fitting, in this case) "holding space" for a remarkable twentieth-century photographer whose work is celebrated in a brilliant new publication from Aperture. We interviewed her recently at Design Observer, where she shared excerpts and insights from this extraordinary, long-awaited book.

Dec 18 · linkedin

This!

Related Questions

What are some of Jessica Helfand's most notable projects at Design Observer?
How did Jessica Helfand's upbringing in Paris and New York influence her design style?
What inspired Jessica Helfand to co-found Design Observer?
Can you tell me more about Jessica Helfand's books on design and visual culture?
What are the main themes of Jessica Helfand's podcast, The Observatory?
Jessica Helfand
Jessica Helfand, photo 1
Jessica Helfand, photo 2
Add to my network

Location

Providence, Rhode Island, United States