During her lay-off she has been taking classes in fashion design at an art school in Fort Lauderdale.

BBC: Williams sisters 'to take a break'

Mr Blass had a few lessons at an art school, and was taken on as an artist and odd-job man by a clothes manufacturer.

ECONOMIST: Bill Blass

After earning an undergraduate and a masters degree in computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Maeda headed to art school in Japan at Tsukuba University Institute of Art and Design, obtaining a PhD in graphic design.

FORBES: Names You Need to Know in 2011: John Maeda