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RSS FeedEvent Recap: Talk About with Stefan Sagmeister
April 22, 2008 Filed Under: Events 10 Comments
Last night’s Talk About with Stefan Sagmeister event was an immense success! The event sold out with over 150 attendees, making this event one of AIGA Charlotte’s largest turnouts. Attendees mixed and mingled during the one hour reception and Stefan visited with many of our members on the steps to Spirit Square.
Stefan gave an incredible lecture. His words and work inspired on both a professional level and a personal level. The craft and creativity of each project was compelling. He shared many stories about the process of each projects’ creation and production. My favorite story was his near arrest for being mistaken as a jumper from an Empire State building window. When in fact he was merely doing a photoshoot for his maxim “Over time I get used to everything and start taking for granted.” Although, it is easy to see how the police would confuse him for a jumper when the shoot consisted of him sitting in one of the building’s open windows with feet dangling over the edge holding a sign with the phrase’s first word “Over”.
On a personal level Stefan’s maxims were very intriguing. Each statement held an idea that we can all relate to and learn from. A few of my favorites are: “Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.” “Everything I do always comes back to me.” and “Having guts always works out for me.”
The biggest inspiration I walked away with was the idea of not always relying on the computer to create impactful design. The idea of conveying messages using bananas, clothes hangers, fabrics, window steam or inflatable monkeys has really challenged me to think beyond the keyboard.
I would like to thank Stefan for traveling to Charlotte to share with us the things he has learned in his life so far! And a special thanks to everyone that made this event possible including the AIGA Charlotte Board, our event volunteers, the design team at MODE and our generous event partners Belk Printing Technologies and Athens Paper.
Banks Wilson
April 22, 2008
Last night's event was one of the best AIGA events I have been to. Stefan was so friendly and approachable. I would like to second Carolyn's thanks to everyone that helped make this possible.
Ryan Klatt
April 22, 2008
I loved his sense of humor. It was a great event overall too!
Virginia Ibach
April 22, 2008
This was my first of many AIGA events. I was so impressed with the organization and friendly volunteers. I look foward to becoming more involved with such a prestigious group.
Kara Hollinger
April 22, 2008
The event was great! Thanks to everyone who helped out with planning, sponsoring and coordinating the event. I really enjoyed Stefan, his energy and the topic he presented. I found everything that he has created very inspiring. I deeply appreciated his work from a non-traditional advertising standpoint which I feel is very important. This morning, I was so excited about his event that I shared the book with the entire creative department! It has became quite the topic of discussion.
Christy Vannetta
April 22, 2008
What a treat to have someone like Stefan share his time and experience with us! I was truly inspired not only by his work but his commitment to social responsibility. I have not stopped thinking about ALL THE THINGS HE'S LEARNED IN HIS LIFE SO FAR and how I can take those lessons and apply them to all areas of my life too. Thanks Stefan! Thanks AIGA and the entire Charlotte Design Community for such a wonderful experience!
Leslie Kraemer
April 23, 2008
Congrats to the AIGA team for producing a rock star event for the rock star designer.
Eric Schilling
April 23, 2008
This was one of the best lectures I have ever had the opportunity to attend. Not only was it well organized but Stefan was quite extraordinary. I have been a fan of his but listening to his reasoning added extra dimension to the ideas espoused in his work. He shows that interesting concepts can (and should) be rendered in an atypical fashion. Thank you Stefan and thank you AIGA Charlotte.
Armando Bellmas
April 23, 2008
I enjoyed the examples Stefan provided for each of the "things," especially "Having guts always works out for me." What a catalyst for imagination and creativity! Thanks for making this happen.
Jane Schmidt
April 25, 2008
Stefan's lecture and presentation was nothing short of incredible. Stefan shows us how to think and why as designers we must take on social responsibility. I brought a class of twenty four students to the lecture and promised them they would walk out of the presentation a changed and improved designer. I believe they walked away unduly impressed and realizing that design concepts do not begin on the computer. Thank you AIGA!
Linda Blake
April 30, 2008
Great presentation and lecture. Great crowd. AIGA, thank you for the invitation.