04Creative Targets - Stefan Sagmeister

Why does the monkey hate when you make create something new? This episode will dig into it.

First, I talk about creativity and how the monkey loves to hate it, meddling with your creative process and throwing up blocks. Then I am joined by this week’s guest, the rock-star of graphic design, Stefan Sagmeister. 

I’ve known Stefan for about fifteen years and every time we chat I come up away excited, impressed and inspired.  He first became famous for a poster he designed in which he carved all the type into his chest with a razor blade. That shocking experiment was typical of an artist who breaks boundaries left and right. His work for clients like Levis, the Guggenheim, Red Bull, Jay Z, the Olympics, the Rolling Stones, have won every design award and  two Grammies. He has published several gorgeous and mind-bending books (and his sketchbooks are included in my book, An Illustrated Life), and he is a legend to designers everywhere.

Every seven years, Stefan closes his studio for a year to recharge his batteries. Most recently, he used his sabbatical to explore the science of happiness. which led to the most visited design exhibit ever. He has just finished directing his first motion picture, The Happy Film. We talk about the process of making it, the obstacles inherent in trying something so brand new, the important of honesty and self-exploration in making good work, the power of communication to improve lives, and so many topics that matter to us both. The conversation was quite a long one but I have decided to share it all in one episode because I think Stefan is one of the most important creative minds of our time and every minute spent with him is never wasted.

What’s your experience with your monkey? How has it affected you, and how have you overcome it? Record your Monkey Tale at dannygregory.com/monkey.

The Shut Your Monkey podcast is brought to you by Sketchbook Skool, online art klasses that teach you how to be creative—no matter what the monkey says. See what it’s like to take a klass at Sketchbookskool.com. Use the promo code MONKEY and save 20% off your first kourse. Take that, monkey…