The 3rd Year's January trip to New York was full of lows, meteorologically speaking that is: a "polar vortex" brought New York City's coldest temperatures in a century. The snow and biting wind didn't stop us getting warm and fuzzy about the amazing cultural experiences the city has to offer. The trip went from highlight to highlight including a studio visit with Steve Brodner;

the incredible Jean Paul Gautier exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum;

exploring the High Line and Chelsea galleries; losing ourselves in the endless rooms of the Metropolitan Museum; finding inspiration and admiration at Pentagram Design with Michael Bierut and the studio of fashion illustrator Bil Donovan;

uncovering key moments of American design history in the archives of AIGA with David Hall; being the first people to see the 56th Annual Illustrators exhibit at the Society of Illustrators and lunch in their beautiful members dining room with SI collections manager and talented illustrator, Eric Fowler;

a guided tour of the Frick Collection; a wonderful insight into the design and advertising materials produced by MOMA's in-house design studio courtesy of Luke Williams,

followed of course by a visit to MOMA; and lastly another trip out to Brooklyn to squeeze inside the studio workspace of painter Daniel Ochoa. Eight days on non-stop inspiration that will help fuel the students through the final push to graduation.