Every seven years, the graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister takes a one-year sabbatical. As he argues, that's not so crazy.
Stefan Sagmeister is one of the most talented graphic designers working today, so he knows a little bit about keeping his creativity flowing. His trick? Taking really, really long vacations. In fact, every seven years, he takes an entire year off.
As Sagmeister describes it in his recent TED talk (which just made it to the Web), we spend our first 25 years learning, the next 40 years working, and the last 15 retired. "I thought it might be helpful to cut off five of those retirement years and intersperse them in between those working years," Sagmeister says. And what's more: "That's clearly enjoyable for myself but probably even more important is that the work that comes out of those years flows back into the company and the society at larger rather than benefiting just a grandchild or two."
You have to admit it's a pretty great way of looking at things. And incidentally, it's one that neoclassical economists such as Milton Friedman would endorse--those types are always rattling on "consumption smoothing"--the idea that consumers will spread their income or goods (such as leisure) over time, so that overall consumption is even. Sagmeister channeling Friedman? Who knew?!
Sagmeister notes that the first sabbatical wasn't terribly useful because it wasn't structured enough. But when he segmented his day into activities--from "storytelling" to "future thinking"--things started to pop. In fact, Sagmeister argues that all seven years of work after his time off sprung from ideas that were formed during the previous sabbatical. His proof is his own charming portfolio--including one example of a brilliantly flexible logo system he designed. Check the video for more.
earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes...oh my! with this incredible weather on the east coast we thought it was the perfect week to post amy + justin's farmer's almanac-inspired save the date and wedding invitation package. amy asked for a design that resembled the look of an old almanac. she loved the idea of using a mix of fonts and etched embellishments.
they chose a 4x6 self-mailing postcard for the save the date. it was a four-color piece and just gave a hint of what was to come for the invitation package.
the invitation and reply card were letterpressed with a deep navy ink on cranes lettra ultra thick ecru stock. the 19th century etched artwork is obviously perfect for the letterpress process! amy tied in the lavender from the save the dates with a simple raffia bow and custom address stamp.
well, we are both glad to have that week of natural disasters behind us!! we are safe and we feel so fortunate that all of our family and friends are okay.
here are some snapshots of a photo-strip style place card we were working on while stuck inside this weekend. how special to include family wedding photos in your own wedding day materials! these tables are named by the years of relatives' wedding dates along with a corresponding black and white photo.
that scary weekend got us both thinking of the importance of family and we just love this bride + groom's inclusion of their own.
Think Smart Designs loves the artists out there. Some are still around us and some are already gone. This is a rare collection of famous artists that will take you back in time and will bring you great memories. -Enjoy
Madonna, Detroit, 1976
Marilyn Monroe in 1946
The Beatles in 1957. George Harrison is 14, John Lennon is 16, and Paul McCartney is 15.
Andy Warhol and Candy Darling (she was born James Lawrence Slattery)
Allen Ginsberg
Jack Kerouac
Hunter S. Thompson (the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)
Bob Dylan, Cher and Sonny
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin
Michael Kane and Nancy Sinatra
Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot
Madonna and her family, 1970
Michael Jackson, 1972
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd (she is the former wife of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton)
Paul McCartney
Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard
Pablo Picasso
Elizabeth Taylor
Twiggy, 1967
Marilyn Monroe
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton
Beatles
Bob Marley
Bukowski and Rourke
Bruce Lee
John Travolta
Elvis and his dad
Sean Penn
Christopher Walken
Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith
Marilyn Monroe
Clark Gable
Mick Jagger
Anton LaVey and Marilyn Manson
Tim Roth
Audrey Hepburn
Adolf Hitler
Bebe Buell And Steven Tyler
Bob Marley
Elvis Presley
Bonnie and Clyde
Stanley Kubrick
Goldie Hawn
Jack Nicholson
Clint Eastwood with his first wife Maggie, 1965
Salvador Dali
Iggy Pop and Blondie
Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, Iggy Pop
Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, David Bowie
MickJagger, 1967
Elton John
John Lennon, George Harrison
John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol
Marlon Brando
Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow
Kurt Cobain
Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate
Charles Manson
Che Guevara
Alain Delon and Romy Schneider
Kurt Vonnegut and Tom Wolf
Henry Miller and his hot model
Young Charles Manson
Elvis Presley and Sophia Loren
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola shows Akira Kurosawa his new polaroid
Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Lauren Bacall
Jayne Mansfield and Anton LaVey
Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon
Iggy Pop, 1970
Manson Family
Bruce Lee
Brooke Shields and Diana Ross
Salvador Dali
Dennis Hopper
Sean Connery
Jack Nicholson
John Travolta
Jane Fonda
John Waters and a stripper
Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith
David Bowie
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor
Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder
Johnny Depp and Kate Moss
Johnny Depp and his niece Megan
Star Wars Crew
Angelina Jolie with parents
Stanley Kubrick
Liza Minnelli and her mother Judy Garland
Larry Flynt
Jackson's Five visiting Bob Marley
Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Natalie Portman
Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins
Paul McCartney
Rod Stewart and Bebe Buell (Liv Tyler's mother)
Sophia Loren in Disneyland
Freddie Mercury and Jane Seymour
Alfred Hitchcock and his kids
Che Guevara
Marilyn Monroe meets Queen Elizabeth II, London, 1956
