Sagmister and Walsh [1962- Present]

“It is very important to embrace failure and to do a lot of stuff — as much stuff as possible — with as little fear as possible. It’s much, much better to wind up with a lot of crap having tried it than to over-think in the beginning and not do it"

Residing in New York with a successful graphic design and print firm, Sagmister works collectively with Jessica Walsh, a designer and art director who has won several awards, including a distinction of Computer art's "Top Rising star in designer". Sagmister started graphic design at the age of fifteen and later received a Fulbright Scholarship at the Pratt Institute in New York. In 1993 Stephan Formed Sagmister .inc and has continued his ideas on branding and Identity; as this been reflected in many commissioned pieces to clients clients such as Jay/Z, The Rolling Stones (Universal Music Group), Levi's Jeans and non profit organisations such as The Azuero Earth Project.

What startled me when looking into Sagmister was that on their firm's website it shows a live shot from the top of their studio which updates every few seconds which I thought was quite nifty and also a good way to show to the public eye that creativity is constantly flourishing in the studio. Is this a good way to gain more client incite? Their interactive website links to pages that are actually written on the floor of the studio to be clicked upon online, could we say that this illustrates and strengthens the image the job a graphic designer has to do- work in unison with their client ? And make the client feel they have a strong involvement within the basis of what they want to achieve.

  One of the most interesting pieces by Sagmister and Walsh is their "Seven deadly sins and seven deadly virtues" set of drinking glasses which incorporates aspects of  illustration and product design. Based on a vision by Adolf Loos back in early 1931, Sagmister has adapted Loos's glasses into a concept that depicts the seven deadly sins and seven deadly virtues of life all illustrated at the bottom of each glass. Personally, as the adults being the target audience this could maybe even lead to a heated debate about ethics at the dinner table as the pictures reveal themselves at the bottom of the drink?  Each individual glass costs a pricey $305 dollars but there wouldn't be any point buying just one now ? The collection will set your wallet back a sparse $2135 and a long with paying back a hefty £8500 university fee it would be more of a sin to purchase it to hold your favorite liquor.