Stefan Sagmeister

“Helping other people helps me. Having guts always works out for me. Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid; I have to live now. Starting a charity is surprisingly easy. Being not truthful always works against me. Everything I do always comes back to me. Assuming is stifling. Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on. Over time I get used to everything and start taking it for granted. Money does not make me happy. My dreams have no meaning. Keeping a diary supports personal development. Trying to look good limits my life. Worrying solves nothing. Complaining is silly; either act or forget. Everybody thinks they are right.” -Stefan Sagmeister

I was absolutely blown away by Sagmeister while watching his Artist Series video. I’ve mentioned before that my artistic background is limited and that is putting it nicely. I find that my strength lies in communicating emotion and thoughts through words and prose. I am one of those people who on an average day doesn’t really “get” art. But I really found myself connecting with Sagmeister’s work. He utilizes words in such a unique context that it allows the emotions of the words and the design behind them to work in harmony to produce an emotional effect that stunned me.

In the video, Milton Glaser speaks about a time in his life when he was riding home from his office in the back of a cab and as he’s exiting the cab, the driver tells him that “Worrying doesn’t help.” Glaser goes on to say that the cab driver was the Buddha disguised. In a very weird way, this is how I feel about Sagmeister. It’s incredibly easy in life, especially within the confines of this program, to feel inadequate and to feel paralyzed by that sense of inadequacy. Sagmeister’s list of the things that he’s learned and his work was that inspiring kick that I needed. Stop worrying, stop complaining. The only way I’m going to past this hurdle is to put everything I have into something and continue learning. And then maybe one day, I’ll be able to create beautiful works of art by peeing in the air.