Stefan Sagmeister

Things I Have Learned

Well known for his album cover and poster designs, Stefan Sagmeister is applying some of his fame and talent to do more than just sell products.

In an interview with Steven Heller for AIGA, he was asked what he really wanted out of graphic design. Sagmeister responded that “it would be great to use it purely as a language: To produce content that lends itself well to be spoken in that language.” The idea is that there are things that can be conveyed more effectively and powerfully through design than other mediums. And he suggested that his series “Things I have learned in my life so far” was a good start.

This series is one in which, as the name implies, Sagmeister shares lessons he’s learned throughout his life. They are generally brief but thought provoking statements, which he presents in such a way as to engage the viewer– both through the media he uses (inﬂatable monkeys are sure to catch the eye, right?) and by spreading them out in such a way that the viewer has to piece them together. (He notes that he would never have the means to fund these projects on his own– they’re all funded by clients.)

The individuals that make up society are inﬂuenced by the ideas they come in contact with every day. Through efforts like these, Sagmeister reminds us that graphic design is a language used to communicate ideas, and challenges us to think outside the box with regards to what we say and how we say it. Each designer, each artist, may be able to convey a meaningful message much more powerfully through their craft than they might otherwise.