Q&A: Stefan Sagmeister

Sagmeister by John Madere

I had the chance to meet and interview the noted graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister last year, when I attended the Ink Talks series of talks and discussions that present breakthrough ideas and stories. Sagmeister calls a spade a spade, and it is, perhaps, this among other traits that has landed him projects with musical greats like The Rolling Stones. Here’s the story, in part.

The award-winning graphic designer on big-breasted female astronauts being a favorite cover art motif with bands and musicians continuing to struggle to make a living

How does award-winning graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister soup up a lecture on design? He gets an intern to knife him. To be specific, he had lines from his speech carved onto his skin with an X-acto knife. Known for his radical design, Sagmeister has worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Lou Reed and some of the biggest names in rock ’n roll history. The Austrian-born New York-based designer won two Grammys—the first for Talking Heads’ Once In A Lifetime and the second for David Byrne and Brian Eno’s Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. 

The article on Stefan Sagmeister was first published on ROLLING STONE India. Read the entire interview with Stefan Sagmeister here, on the ROLLING STONE India website.