The Stefan Sagmeister Book For Designers Who Can Design OK But Who Wanna Learn To Do Other Good, Helpful Stuff Too

The latest issue of ID Magazine features an hilarious – yet very incisive – review by Douglas Coupland of Stefan Sagmeister's latest book Things I Have Learnt in My Life So Far.

Here's a few choice quotes (but you really must read Coupland's ascerbic and very witty review):

"While the art direction is flawless, the sentiments behind the words feel a bit like Forrest Gump goes to RISD." (RISD being a high-profile east coast US design school).  

On Sagmeister's year away from design: "Sagmeister emerged from his walkabout year indoctrinated by American-style therapeutic pepspeak". (Coupland is Canadian). Outsiders to American culture find 'pepspeak', well, pretty silly really. Besides, Sagmeister is Austrian. You know... (Northern) European where they're not usually known for their fondness for 'pepspeaking'. It's quite often the opposite actually and Coupland thinks that the book suffers for it's lack of 'darkness': "it’s [discussing] the scary shit in life that helps other human souls".

There's an insight into the fishbowl that is the New York design world: "As well, seeing a list of hundreds and hundreds of people being thanked was chilling for me because it really made me wonder if Sagmeister is some sort of superconnected hub-monster – one of those beloved sacred Manhattan people like Chip Kidd or Laurie Anderson of whom nothing bad can be said – and should you not pay proper homage, you will be crushed like a bug. I’m kidding and I’m not kidding."

And Coupland's critique of the feel-good bromides that punctuate the book is best summed up by:

"Kittens are fluffy and cute.
Helping people makes you a better citizen.
Recycling makes me pure."

Actually, Coupland made that last one up – but you get the idea.

I have to confess to being a fan of Sagmeister's work. But he has gone a little Zoolander here methinks.

................................

Douglas Coupland is a meteorite-collecting Canadian novelist and artist.