Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far.

When you’re referred to industry-wide by your last name, it’s safe to say that you’re Someone. And Stefan Sagmeister in this day and age is synonymous with graphic design.

His latest book began as a list Sagmeister made in his diary under the title Things I have learned in my life so far. (On a personal side note, I found this amusing because I have one titled Things I Have Learned So Far in Life in my own.) With the support of his clients, Sagmeister transformed these sentences into typographic works, from billboards in France to sign-toting inflatable monkeys on the streets of Scotland. Accompanied by essays as well as Sagmeister’s own words, the series is a combination of personal revelation, art, and design as well as advice. This book consists of fifteen unbound images in a laser-cut slipcase. Shuffling the sequence of the signatures will produce 15 different covers.

Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far is also an exhibition on show at Deitch Projects‘ Grand Street gallery in New York until Feburary 23.

Sagmeister’s full list of 20 maxims are as follows:

1. Helping other people helps me.
2. Having guts always works out for me.
3. Thinking that life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.
4. Organising a charity group is surprisingly easy.
5. Being not truthful always works against me.
6. Everything I do always comes back to me.
7. Assuming is stifling.
8. Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on.
9. Over time I get used to everything and start taking for granted.
10. Money does not make me happy.
11. My dreams have no meaning.
12. Keeping a diary supports personal development.
13. Trying to look good limits my life.
14. Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.
15. Worrying solves nothing.
16. Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.
17. Everybody thinks they are right.
18. If I want to explore a new direction professionally, it is helpful to try it out for myself first.
19. Low expectations are a good strategy.
20. Everybody who is honest is interesting.

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