Stefan Sagmeister is a very articulate designer, author, and lecturer who puts out some abstract ideas behind his work. His pieces bear his signature handmade arts+crafts style, which uses simple elements and combines them into an eye-catching concept.
Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister talks about the origins of his "Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far" series, which has been documented in a new book from Abrams.
In year 2000, I took a year off, set the year aside for design experiments. Lots of things came out of it. I found the joy of being a designer.
I have always kept a diary, but probably kept it a little bit more consequently and a little bit more thoroughly that year because I had more time.
There was a time in the beginning of the year that I might become a film maker instead. It is smarter to actually spend some time thinking about what I could say in the language that I already know how to speak - graphic design - rather than throwing that language away and learning a new language.
The two allow you to say different things in different levels of depth. As a graphic designer, you have the attention of the audience. It is limiting in a way. I, myself, as a consumer, am always more touched by a novel, by a short story, by a featuring movie, than by a little 60 second piece.
We jump in on clients that give us incredible amount of freedom. Now that we have the freedom, let's see if there is something that is possible to say within 30 seconds or 60 seconds that is not necessarily a promotional or advertising message.
Everything I do always come back to me. When I did the first one, I didn't think of it as a series at all. I received a lot of feedback, mails asking for prints and allowance to redo it in their own style. Personally driven projects can also be a client-driven project.
Is that graphic design or fine art? Graphic design done by designing companies, published in design media, have a purpose besides self expression. They clearly have a function as pieces of design.
Stefan Sagmeister describes the creative process behind his Yellow Pencil winning AIGA poster. Animation by D&AD Student Pencil Winners Camila Carlow and Krzysztof Bierski.
Cultural poster only works in society that works.
Posters left over is posters that designers pushed because they like designing posters.
Designer scalpel designs that touch.
By the time that it hurts really badly. We were already half or 2/3 through since we were at the end of the deadline, or we had to come out with a new idea, or just fight back pain and go with the whole thing through.
Bandage under right nipple is because there was a typo.
When I talk about things before they are developed, I feel like I have not really done them. If I talk extensively about them, I kind of lose the need to do them, because I already sort of like turn them over so many times so I kind of like stop.
I think I have been writing diaries since I was twelve, 15 to 10 minutes a week, it really forces me to think back in the weekend of what really happened.
I always try to go in the direction where the final piece will incorporate the process visibly.
Always look for clients that look smarter than you, that's the only way you can really learn something.
