Thompson studied in his hometown Topeka at Washburn College (1934). From 1938–62 he designed the innovative journal of the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company, Westvaco Inspirations for Printers. He sought to inspire printers with his imaginative typography, graphics, and ingeniously appropriated paintings and engravings, employing colour separations and enlarged screens. During WW2 he served as art director of the Office of War Information. From 1945–72 Thompson served as art director for Mademoiselle as well as the influential Art News Annual and Art News magazine. He designed 35 magazines over the course of his career, including Smithsonian. His Washburn Bible (1969) is a landmark in contemporary book design. From 1956 until his death he was on the faculty of Yale University. Among his numerous major awards, Thompson received the National Society of Art Directors ‘Art Director of the Year’ (1950), AIGA Gold Medal (1975), and the Art Directors Hall of Fame award (1977).