Design Matters with Debbie Millman Stefan Sagmeister
16 snips
Jan 15, 2024 
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.
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A Free Childhood Enabled Creativity
- Stefan grew up as the youngest of six with parents who ran a successful local store and allowed him wide freedom.
- That upbringing gave him space to explore creativity and feel privileged rather than constrained.
Protect Your Freedom And Studio Size
- Save early windfalls and avoid spending high agency pay because it can trap you into agency work.
- Keep studio size small (three to five) to maximize quality and joy while avoiding uncontrolled growth.
Long-Term Data Counters Short-Term Pessimism
- Long-term data often contradicts our short-term pessimism driven by media cycles.
- Viewing trends over centuries reveals improvements like rising democracies that short-term news obscures.