Stefan Sagmeister
Designer · Mentor
9 articles · Feb 2023 — Oct 2025
Articles & interviews
- "Emmi Salonen's Book Tackles Preventing Creative Burnout"
It's Nice That · Oct 28, 2025
The article profiles Finnish designer Emmi Salonen and her new book, The Creative Wellbeing Handbook, published by BIS Publishers. Drawing from her own experience with burnout, Salonen introduces a model that reframes creativity as an ecosystem requiring balance between input and output. The book compiles insights from over 100 creatives worldwide and offers tools for sustaining creative wellbeing.
- Filmmakers Document Sign Painter's Wisdom in Short Film
Creative Boom · Sep 16, 2025
The article profiles filmmakers Santiago Carrasquilla and Danaé Gosset, who created a short documentary titled 'Luis Benz: Happiness is Achieved With Very Simple Things'. The film captures the life and philosophy of Argentine sign painter Luis Benz, emphasizing authenticity, simplicity, and human connection. The piece explores the creative process, challenges, and emotional journey behind the film’s eight-year completion.
Art CampPencil.tvfilm - "Need for More Age Diversity in Creative Teams Highlighted"
It's Nice That · Aug 18, 2025
Katie Cadwell’s column for If You Could Jobs explores the lack of age diversity in creative teams and the challenges faced by older professionals in the industry. She argues that experienced creatives bring invaluable insight and stability, and that the industry should better support and celebrate them. The piece highlights examples of senior designers still thriving and calls for more inclusive representation across creative workplaces.
If You Could JobsIt’s Nice ThatIDEOother - Claire Blyth Discusses Lasting Creative Reputation Beyond Social Media
Creative Boom · Jul 15, 2025 · Interview
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May recaps a talk by Claire Blyth, founder of Red Setter, on how creatives can build lasting reputations beyond social media. Blyth argues that media relations and genuine journalist relationships offer credibility and visibility that social platforms cannot. The session, chaired by Creative Boom editor Katy Cowan, shared practical advice on pitching, storytelling, and maintaining professional relationships.
Red SetterCreative Boombranding|communications|public_relations - Elizabeth Goodspeed Discusses Designers Becoming Influencers
It's Nice That · Jul 2, 2025
Elizabeth Goodspeed’s essay explores how designers have increasingly become public-facing influencers, blending their personal identities with their professional output. Tracing the shift from modernist anonymity to performative self-branding, she critiques how social media and visibility culture have turned design into a form of ongoing performance. The piece situates this trend within a historical lineage from figures like Sagmeister and Walsh to today’s content-driven creative economy.
Sagmeister Inc.Sagmeister & WalshPublic Worksbranding - "Authored the Missing Book on Design History"
Creative Boom · Jun 4, 2025
Creative Boom features Tom May’s new book, *The 50 Greatest Designers: The People Who Have Created Our Environment*, which explores 150 years of design history across disciplines and continents. The book aims to highlight overlooked figures, especially women and non-Western designers, and make design history accessible to a broad audience. Published by Arcturus Publishing, it combines engaging storytelling with rich visuals to inspire designers and readers alike.
Arcturus Publishingeditorial - Following Obsessions Enhances Creativity, Study Finds
It's Nice That · Mar 24, 2025
Written by Ellis Tree for It’s Nice That, this feature explores how creative obsessions can fuel artistic growth and innovation. Drawing on examples from Stefan Sagmeister, Liang-Jung Chen, Lexie Smith, and Thomas Thwaites, the article argues that fixations—whether on bread, hardware, or living as a goat—can lead to meaningful creative breakthroughs. Illustrated by Seb Agresti, it encourages readers to embrace their fascinations as a productive force in creative work.
editorial - YEYE Design Studio: The Journey from &Walsh to Zayn Malik
The Brand Identity · Oct 30, 2024 · Interview
The Brand Identity interviews Matthew Roop and Dylan Chan, founders of Singapore-based YEYE Design Studio, about their journey from working at &Walsh and in startups to running their own idea-led practice. The couple discuss their complementary roles, philosophy of designing from strong concepts, and the studio’s growth through projects like Mixoloshe, ZEBEDEE, and Dadpack. Their story highlights perseverance, collaboration, and a belief in emotionally driven design.
YEYE Design Studio&WalshS&WMixolosheZEBEDEEbranding - New Brand Identity for .Oddity Frangrance by .Oddity Studio
BP&O · Feb 28, 2023
BP&O’s feature on .Oddity Studio’s self-initiated project, .Oddity Fragrance, explores how the Hong Kong-based collective merges design and scent to create a multi-sensory brand experience. The project, developed with perfumer Mark Buxton, emphasizes craftsmanship, conceptual storytelling, and the intersection of art and design. The article positions the work as an experimental, poetic, and tactile exploration of inspiration and sensory perception.
.Oddity StudioSagmeister Inc.&Walsh.Oddity Fragrancebranding