Stefan Sagmeister, iconic graphic designer and typographer, discusses his new book that transforms facts into abstract visualizations. He explores the impact of short-term vs long-term thinking, the role of news and availability bias, the psychological toll of negative reviews, activation of the amygdala in response to rudeness, long-term design and environmental consciousness, and the concept of combinatorial creativity in art.
Stefan Sagmeister's new book, 'Now is Better,' visually presents unexpectedly optimistic statistics about improvements in life, highlighting the importance of focusing on long-term progress.
Sagmeister advocates for a balanced approach in addressing social issues like climate change, using a combination of positive reinforcements and negative warnings.
Deep dives
Stefan Sogmeister's Background and Career
Stefan Sogmeister is an acclaimed designer known for his unorthodox and provocative designs. He has won numerous awards and two Grammy awards for his album cover designs. Sogmeister is based in New York City and has been in the design industry for over four decades.
Overview of Stefan Sogmeister's New Book
Sogmeister's new book, titled 'Now is Better,' combines art, design, history, qualitative analysis, and data sets to present visually stunning visualizations. The book explores the concept of long-term progress and presents unexpectedly optimistic statistics about improvements in various aspects of life, such as life expectancy, education, and democracy.
The Importance of Long-Term Thinking
Sogmeister emphasizes the need to shift focus from short-term negative news to long-term progress. He discusses the human tendency to gravitate towards bad news and the importance of balancing positive reinforcements with negative warnings. By looking at long-term data and progress, Sogmeister believes we can have a more informed and positive perspective on the world.
Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Concerns
While acknowledging the seriousness of climate change, Sogmeister believes that the positive and negative aspects of change should be considered. He points out that progress has been made in addressing other social issues, such as smoking, through a combination of positive reinforcements and negative warnings. Sogmeister believes a similar approach should be taken to tackle climate change.
Iconic graphic designer, typographer, author, and educator Stefan Sagmeister joins live on the CreativeMornings stage to talk about his multi-decade, ever-evolving career and his newest book, Now is Better, transforming facts about the state of our world into abstract data visualizations.