Now Is Better, the Psychology of Optimism | 2-Time Grammy Winner Stefan Sagmeister
ABOUT stefan:
Stefan Sagmeister is a two-time Grammy Award-winning graphic designer, artist, and founder of Sagmeister Inc. His work spans iconic album covers, international exhibitions, bestselling books, TED Talks, and groundbreaking design projects that explore happiness, beauty, psychology, and human behavior. Through his latest project, Now is Better, Stefan combines research, data, and visual storytelling to challenge our assumptions about the modern world.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
Why "Now is Better" became Stefan's latest creative mission
How negativity shapes modern media and public perception
Turning complex research into compelling visual storytelling
Designing exhibitions that change how people think
Why communication design is about creating change
The value of seven-year sabbaticals for long-term creativity
Keeping design a calling instead of just a career
What AI means for the future of graphic design
Why human creativity will always matter
Lessons from decades of experimental design and storytelling
In This Episode…
Carl sits down with legendary graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister to explore why now is better than most people believe. From award-winning album covers for The Rolling Stones and Talking Heads to groundbreaking exhibitions, TED Talks, and his latest book Now is Better, Stefan shares how design can shape not just what we see—but how we think about the world.
Together, they discuss why modern media makes us believe everything is getting worse, how data tells a very different story, and why designers have a responsibility to communicate ideas that create meaningful change. Stefan also shares insights into his famous seven-year sabbaticals, designing exhibitions that challenge perspectives, and how AI may reshape the future of creativity without replacing the human spirit behind great design.
Whether you're a designer, artist, creative entrepreneur, marketer, or simply someone looking for a more hopeful perspective on the future, this conversation is filled with timeless creative wisdom.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
🌐 Website: https://sagmeister.com
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by Epic Made.
Epic Made creates entertainment-quality animation, digital art, and graphic design to elevate brands and build fandom.
We are a collective of senior-level artists across multiple disciplines, producing trailers, key art, social campaigns, branded storytelling, and motion systems for entertainment, gaming, and pop culture brands. Our work has supported major networks and studios, including SYFY and Nickelodeon.
To learn more, visit www.epicmade.net or email hey@getepicmade.com.
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