Under his care, the Journal became a place of critical design writing, inviting authors from a variety of professions and nurturing the careers of fledgling critics, who documented design writing. In the 1980s, he became interested in design through friendships with Seymour Chwast and Louise Fili, who he later married, as well as becoming the editor of the AIGA Journal of Graphic Design. He became the art director of The New York Times Book Review in 1977.

His interest in illustration employed on the Op-Ed page led him to publish collections on the subject. In 1974, Heller became the youngest art director for The New York Times Op-Ed page, replacing Jean-Claude Suares. After the Free Press, he moved on to various publications, including porn tabloid Screw. He met illustrator Brad Holland who convinced him page layouts and type choices mattered, of which Heller was previously unconcerned. In 1968, he became the art director of the New York Free Press without formal education or credentials because of his leftist leanings, later attending some New York University lectures utilizing his press pass. After leaving SVA, he was hired to teach a newspaper design class.

In 1968, he enrolled at New York University with a major in English, later transferring to the School of Visual Arts illustration and cartoon program but not graduating from either. He attended the Walden School, a progressive prep school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, as well as military school. Steven Heller was born July 7, 1950, in New York City to Bernice and Milton Heller. Steven Heller (born July 7, 1950) is an American art director, journalist, critic, author, and editor who specializes in topics related to graphic design.

Vintage graphic design steven heller