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11.19.09
Debbie Millman | Audio

Stefan Sagmeister


Stefan Sagmeister (1962– ) is among today’s most important and influential graphic designers. Born in Austria, he has lived and worked in New York since 1993. Renowned for album covers, posters, installations and his recent book of life lessons, Things I have learned in my life so far, Sagmeister brings a fresh perspective to the role and work of a designer. In this podcast interview with Debbie Millman, he discusses his year away from his New York-based design practice, his personal time in Bali, as well as discussing his new, in-progress documentary film, Happiness.

Posted in: Design Matters



Comments [24]

SO fun to listen to and interesting all the way – from the opening story to the end – you two are just too awesome, thanks so much!
Yotam
11.22.09
07:11

delightful! thank you for opening up your lives to us. we are all one...
florence haridan
11.23.09
02:26

It was great to hear both your philosophies and thoughts. Very inspiring.
Steve Zimmerman
11.23.09
03:37

Some previous guests were very interesting but the whole experience gets extremely annoying because of shitty audio quality. Couldn't you afford a better microphone and at least proper mp3 recorder? You probably earn a fortune in your Big Branding Firm.
Joe
11.23.09
09:56

Enjoyed the introduction and how it set things up... definitely made my morning pleasant
Erin
11.23.09
01:15

Thank you for that! For me happiness comes from hearing inspiring words from Stefan Sagmeister, among other things. I really enjoyed Debbies side of the story and especially her argument for the function of Art.
Seth T
11.23.09
05:52

This was the best part of my day. Most definitely. I was left thinking about some of the statements all night.

Especially the bit about "deteriorating into a job".

Thoroughly enjoyed! Thanks!
Ryan Adair
11.24.09
10:00

Definitely made the morning much more pleasant. The whole interview was excellent. I don't know what it is, but hearing accomplished designers like yourselves be so open and outspoken about still present insecurities is inspiring. Maybe that sounds odd, but in my eyes it's quality control and the second you feel 100% secure about what your doing you should probably get out while your ahead.

Thanks for a great show that is always enjoyable and thought provoking!
K.Weber
11.24.09
12:19

I love how SS points out that our job as designers has nothing to do with collaboration; we are artists, finally, and the program is irrelevant.
John Kane
11.25.09
09:15

indeed an inspiring conversation. thank you debbie and stefan.
best,
umd
unnikrishna menon damodaran
11.26.09
10:17

Debbie, if you are reading please buy a better microphone or move away from the mic. It would also help if you cut your intro monologues down to at least 1 minute. We all know you love the sound of your own voice, but you are interviewing designers so you need to be a little objective.
cut the crap
11.27.09
06:11

Loved the interview. Intresting indeed. Especially the SS points. :)
Abhilash Mukundan
11.28.09
03:00

Has "Cut The Crap" or "Joe" listened to this podcast? The sound is fine. In fact, the sound has improved dramatically since Debbie's move to Design Observer, all the new shows sound great.
Josh
11.29.09
03:06

Having tuned in to hear what Sagmeister has to say, I sure could have done without Milman's introductory monologue. It was like a bait and switch: Sagmeister was advertised, but I had to first listen to Millman tell a five-minute story about getting fleas, having bad hair, lusting after her Israeli movers, etc. I kept wondering what on earth her story had do with the impending interview. Well, as it turns out, almost nothing. This is the first one of these I have listened too. Do they all have a long intro monologue?

Once the interview finally got started, Sagmeister's comments were insightful, interesting, and inspiring, and Millman conducted the interview well. But it did also sound to me like they were talking to close to the mike.
Rob Henning
11.30.09
01:15

i don't understand how people think at all anymore...first of all the quality of the podcast is perfect...maybe the people complaining about that should think about getting new speakers. second, i understand people are excited to hear sagmeister, but the point of debbie's show is that it is a complete story, that includes her monologue as an intro to the subject matter of the interview. furthermore, i find, as does everyone i've ever spoken to about it, these monologues to be beautiful story-telling and always give great insight into a new way of thinking about something seemingly ordinary. i suggest that the naysayers open up their hearts and minds a bit and just try to enjoy the opportunity to learn.
what's wrong with people?
11.30.09
02:55

I think Debbie interjects just the right amount of humanity & candor in her introductions along with her amazingly insightful interviews.Don't be daunted by the 2 nasty reviews from vitriolic reviewers, the sound quality is just fine. I thoroughly enjoyed Stefan's outspoken pov & look forward to many more interviews from Debbie.
isabelle
11.30.09
04:03

Excellent interview. I felt Debbie's introduction was very relevant and added to Stefan's very vulnerable exploration into the world of human emotion. He is one man, expressing the findings from his brave journey and he is challenging us to do the same. To turn a deaf ear to the truth that can be gained by listening to world around us is surely a meaningless existence.
stacy
11.30.09
06:00

This is going on the bulletin board next to my desk:

"Pretty much everything that either during or afterwards I thought 'Oh, I like it – Oh, this is kind of good' or even at points where I work on it and I wasn't sure if it's good or not, but I was sure that at this point in time I don't know how to make it better, it turned out other people liked it too."
Strath
12.01.09
12:16

This interview was great. I didn't have any issues with the sound or monologue. You know what they say, "Those who can't do it themselves...always criticize". If you are reading this Debbie keep on doing what you are doing! Stefan you rock too!
paul
12.01.09
04:39

Stefan's comments about "happiness" really gave me something to think about. Inspiring interview and great fodder for a spirited discussion at work. Kudos to Stefan and Debbie for encouraging us to think well after the interview has ended!
jordan
12.01.09
04:50

Made You Look was a seminal book during my graphic design education. Thanks to Debbie and Stefan for producing this brilliant interview and conversation.
Hollis
01.14.10
05:21

Loved the quote at the end. Great interview of my of my favorite people.
Hernan Valencia
03.11.10
02:00

Very interesting and enjoyable listen. Alot of points touched here about happiness and psychology are very in key with Anthony Robbins way of coaching/teaching. If anyone was particularly interested in that part, look him up. His talks are mucho inspiring and a good complement to whats discussed here.
Dua
12.15.10
10:02

Really great show and how marvelous to have Stefan Sagmeister on it! THANK YOU!
Nora
02.17.11
05:20


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