Graphic Designer Essay: Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan Sagmeister was born in Bregenz, Austria in 1962. As an adolescent Stefan had a deep passion for music and was always fascinated by the artwork displayed on his record jackets. “I got interested in designing because album covers roused the interest in me to study design in the first place.” With this early exposure to the art of graphic design, Stefan knew by the young age of thirteen that he wanted to study and create a profession out of design. Stefan began his studies at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria but moved to New York in 1987 to study at the famous Pratt Institute. When reminiscing on his time in design school, Stefan remarks: “I probably would still be in art school if I could have found a way to make it happen.”

After completing his education, Sagmeister acquired a job working for Leo Burnett in Hong Kong at the age of 29. His time in Hong Kong was short lived, and in 1993 he returned to New York to work for the Hungarian graphic designer Tibor Kalman at the M&Co design firm. When the M&Co studio closed within the same year Stefan was hired, he took the advice given to him by Tibor. Tibor warned Stefan that if he got too comfortable making the big money within an agency. He would eventually become “the whore of the ad agencies” for the rest of his life. Knowing it was time to say goodbye to the design agencies, Sagmeister started his own design company, Sagmeister Inc., in 1994.

Working with clients The Rolling Stones, and Lou Reed promptly allowed Sagmeister to get the reputation he deserved as a designer. With his painstaking attention to every detail, Sagmeister was able to create works that has something new to offer at every viewing. This attention to detail allows him to create highly complex images that still translate to the viewer as clean and simplistic. His series of images for the Talking Heads “Once In a Lifetime” box set perfectly exemplify his process. The complexity of the images “brush stroke like” detailing and the great attention to color palette and sense of depth is masked by a light and pleasing lightheartedness. Yet the more you view the images, the more the lightheartedness seems to be subdued by the dark yet playful baby wolves. Which in turn, further involves the viewer and helps to create the unspoiled balance between “virtue and vice” within the set of images. Even though now at the age of 43 Sagmeister admits music is “now a diminishing part of my life,” he still finds great inspiration and joy in working with music related projects. Commenting: “The simple act of visualizing music, this never gets old.”

It doesn’t take long to notice that Stefan Sagmeister tends to thinks outside the box. Based in New York City, Sagmeister Inc. has continually produced eye catching yet timeless designs that have launched Sagmeister into the top tier of designers. Stefan does not see design as a mere medium to transfer information or ideas, but as an opportunity to touch someone’s life, or change ones perspective on a subject or idea. “Our goal for the future will be to touch somebody’s heart with design.” One prominent example of his approach being put into action is a typography wrapped casino in Linz, Austria. The front of the casino reads: “Money,” while the sides read: “does not make me happy.” Stefan is a firm believer in keeping diaries, and claims that it helps to spur “personal development.” Often using his diaries to create lists, or personal thoughts on life and its lessons, Stefan has encompassed many of these lessons or ideals in his recent works as a designer.

In 1999 Stefan closed his studio to commercial work so that he could focus on his own experimental projects. In this time Stefan created many works out of life lessons he had listed in his diaries. Such as: “Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.” and “Having guts always works out for me.” Stefan created these works using all methods of design, and many different mediums. From short films and photography, to industrial design and typography, Stefan created many inspired and personal works, which created high rates of demand by individuals and companies alike.

Taking time off is something that Sagmeister recommends for all graphic artists. Sagmeister himself takes a year long sabbatical about every seven years to help refresh himself as a designer. Currently on sabbatical in Bali, Indonesia Stefan is adamant on not taking work during his time off. Recently turning down an offer to design a poster for Barrack Obama’s presidential campaign, Stagmiester demonstrates how important dedicated time off is for him to be a successful and inspired designer. Sagmeister says that everything they designed in the seven years following his first sabbatical had originated within that first year he took off, helping to illustrate the power of taking a sabbatical.

Even with all of his success Sagmeister has not relied on this to further his career. Sagmeister is continually pushing his work and pushing the way he looks at design, allowing his work to remain novel and inspired. When asked about his fears or concerns for the future Sagmeister purely articulates: “I can't say that I am scared of anything regarding the future... not at all. I think that it's going to be fine. Humanity adapts to all kinds of situations, and right now I think is a good time to be alive.”