Kotaro Furukawa comes off like his designs – cool, approachable, focused. The 2026 Hh scholarship winner’s goal is “information first”, something he credits to working in UI/UX design before studying the graphic arts at Spokane Falls Community College. That’s 5,000 miles away from his home in Tokyo. He talks of having “two minds in my brain”; not just thinking in Japanese and translating to English, but also balancing his artistic impulses with a project’s needs. At a young age, Kotaro shows such restraint, aligning with the “cheat code” of his favorite designer, Virgil Abloh: Change an existing design 3 [...]

This is no ordinary assignment. It’s a chance to nerd out about graphic design. Even if you came into SFCC’s program not knowing any famous names or iconic works, we’re guessing you have feelings about the creative process and the notebook doodles that led you here. Along with a grade, completing this challenge comes with a chance to win $1,000 toward year-two tuition. And it’s not about who’s the best with Adobe – our panel of judges are fellow designers looking for energy, imagination, and the ability to express what’s behind your ideas. We started the Helveticahaus Scholarship to [...]

2025 Hh scholarship winner Caya Berndt appreciates good branding on a soda can, but their design dreams are in the mind-opening, wave-making vein. Think Gran Fury’s advocacy posters that rocked New York City during the AIDS crisis. Or Aries Moross making a dazzling case for maximalism in the enduring era of flat restraint. Even in everyday creative work, Caya wants to see more chances taken. “There is a little bit of frustration in me, where I’m like, try something different. Just get weird! Get silly with it. Try something new. That could be riskier. You do see brands willing [...]

Money. Sorry for the cheap shot, but we had to get your attention. Because we’re proud Sasquatches too, and ’tis the season for giving back to SFCC. That means $1,000 in the virtual stocking of one graphic design student heading into year two, and you don’t even have to leave us a plate of cookies. You do have to apply for the Helveticahaus scholarship, which will put that cash toward your tuition. That leaves more in your pocket for other things that matter, like Typewolf lookbooks or a lot of peanut butter. No fancy requirements to apply. Just click, tell us a [...]

It’s hard to say what 2024 Hh scholarship winner Gavin Davis will perform for his next gig. Music or graphic design? Either way, he’s got the talent and drive to pull it off. Gavin tells us that music was his first love – and from the way he talks about his middle and high school years, we know he means it. To the point of staying in the band room every day after school until the staff kicked him out and locked the building. Talk about a serious band nerd. After high school, he graduated to bona fide musician, [...]

It’ll be worth your time. And easier than you think. What’ll be? Applying for the Helveticahaus scholarship. We’re giving away $1,000 for school, and it’s only for students finishing their first year in graphic design at SFCC. That’s you, no? Those thousand bucks would be useful. So you could avoid: > getting stressed about money > working extra hours at a crummy part-time job > living on ramen and PB&J And have more time for what you love: > creating hella good design The application is live. Just click here to tell us a bit about yourself, answer a few questions, and submit your portfolio. But [...]

Congratulations to our 2023-24 Hh scholarship winner, Kambria Schaffer. A self-described “big, big gamer” who’s massively competitive yet loves rooting for others, Kambria jokes that school can get in the way of her real love – video gaming. “At the moment,” she says, “My obsession is Baldur’s Gate 3.” In case you’re as old as we are, and the last video game you tried was “Pong,” we’ll save you the Google search. “Baldur’s Gate” is a popular video game series based on the role-playing style of Dungeons & Dragons. (If you don’t know what D&D is, you’re on your [...]

Aaaand that’s a wrap. Winter in Spokane is officially over. How do we know – for sure, for sure? Well, the snowplows are gone, the pothole patchers are here, and there are safety orange (#FF6700) cones ev-er-y-where. Which can only mean only one thing: summer’s here, and next year’s tuition is due soon. Ok, technically, that’s two things. The point is, as the weather gets warmer, it’s time to think about how to pay for another year of school. And we’ve got a suggestion: Apply for the Helveticahaus Scholarship. Way back – too many summers ago – we were [...]

Congratulations to our 2022-23 Hh scholarship recipient, Antoni Carlson. What can we tell you about Antoni? He’s an open-hearted, honest, and sincere person – the type who naturally wants to support others. He’s also super chill. “I like to go with the flow,” Antoni says. And he stays in the flow by connecting with nature – camping, backpacking, skiing. Being just minutes from the mountains is something he loves about living in Spokane. “It’s relaxing to get away from everything. It just feels right.” But, oh boy, does Antoni’s demeanor change when you mention something creative like photography or [...]

You’ve probably heard the news. A buck ain’t what it used to be. It takes a lot more of your paycheck to buy a gallon of gas and a six-pack of whatever it is you kids are drinking these days. We’re not economists, but we are old. And we remember the last time inflation was this stupid: back when we were students at Spokane Falls Community College. When Donna Summer and Rod Stewart ruled the airwaves. When minimum wage was less than $3 an hour. And when President Jimmy Carter told the American Society of Newspaper Editors that we [...]