Stefan Sagmeister, “Everybody Who’s Honest is Interesting”

I am sure a lot of us are familiar with Stefan Sagmeister by now. Love him or hate him you have to admit his designs leave their mark on our minds. There is a part of me that gravitates towards his work and a part that is repelled by it. As one whom personally defaults to “playing it safe”, his sense of design freedom and experimentation draws me in and provides inspiration. But another part of me goes, “I would never do that” (or even “could” do that).

But with all his shock value, this interview with Sagmeister I came across a few weeks ago shows his humility and humanity. Here is an excerpt that I found very intriguing:

Q:  Do you have any beliefs or policies that haven’t changed over the years?

A: Yes, a whole lot of them:

1. Helping other people helps me
2. Having guts always works for me
3. Thinking that life will be better in the future is stupid.  I have to live now.
4. Starting a charity is surprisingly easy
5. Being not truthful works against me
6. Everything I do always comes back to me
7. Assuming is stifling
8. Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on
9. Over time I get used to everything and start taking for granted
10. Money does not make me happy
11. Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life
12. Keeping a diary supports personal development
13. Trying to look good limits my life
14. Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses
15. Worrying solves nothing
16. Complaining is silly. Either act of forget.
17. Actually doing the things I set out to do increases my overall level of satisfaction.
18. Everybody thinks they are right.
19. If I want to explore a new direction professionally, it is helpful to try it out for myself first.
20. Low expectations are a good strategy.
21. Everybody who is honest is interesting.

I especially like the last line, “Everybody who is honest is interesting.” How can I be honest in my designs? How can I be true to myself? To have the courage to really put myself — my actual self — out there? It is almost as if if I don’t speak my voice, then no one will. What is the design that only I can play?

Perhaps I might discover that during my schooling. Perhaps it will be a decade away after pounding out design after design.

At any rate, this series of nature images he created speak volumes:

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